Review of Punch-Drunk Love (2002) by Thomas P — 28 Mar 2016

When Paul Thomas Anderson first said that he was writing a movie for Adam Sandler, everyone laughed. It's hard to hear this film over the sound of everybody choking on said laughs- this is Sandler's best work by a longshot.

It's obvious that this was written with Sandler in mind because it touches into what makes (well, made, at this point) him appealing- there is just something unnerving about him, but presented with a certain meekness. I've just described your stereotypical closet axe-murderer probably but, I stick by my characterisation.

Anderson seems to relate anyway as he offers up a rom-com that's weird and funny and romantic but definitely the first one more so than anything else. Like much of Anderson's work, it's a stream of scenes with the occasional piece of brilliance. As a whole, it's more of a lived experience than a cohesive start-to-finish achievement but when it hits the nail on the head, it really hits it.

It's superbly cast all-round, and it's refreshing to see the likes of Emily Watson fitting in so well with such a darkly-comic work. It's niche to put it lightly but the appeal is there and there might just be moments that stick with you, as there were for me.

At the very least- don't let Sandler's name, combined with the rom-com tag, put you off from this one. This is a hidden gem and when we look back on Sandler's work (whenever he finally stops making films!), I have a feeling that this one will stand out from the bunch.