Review of Punch-Drunk Love (2002) by Rex A — 07 Jan 2014

1-6-2014 (Re-review).

There is a new Adam Sandler and he will shock everyone for his performance in "Punch-Drunk Love"-- angry, sad, desperate. In voice he is still the same child-like, funny and starved Adam Sandler we know in his comedies (Like Happy Gilmore and Big Daddy), but this film, seeing him in a new light, we can see through Sandler's persona thanks to Paul Thomas Anderson.

Anderson said before that Sandler's movies always makes him feel better on lonely Saturday nights or when he's angry, he the director of Magnolia and Boogie Nights, this is a smaller film from him but it's as impressive as his others.

In "Punch-Drunk Love", Barry Egan (Sandler), a shy businessman who runs a company with products of the novelty toiletries. Barry has seven sisters, who hate him and their all in his business in every moment, he desperately wishes they stop invading his privacy, telling him what to do, and putting him down. He does desperately try, in one scene he has a family gathering, his sisters are making fun of him but you can see he's trying to be happy but ends up breaking glass patio doors.

Their the reason he has anger problems. He falls in love with a girl, Lena Leonard (Emily Watson), who's just as shy as him who makes him happy and he makes her happy. Before that, Barry has four goons after him from another businessman (Philip Seymour Hoffman) after calling a phone sex line.

The reason to thank Anderson because the film not only Sandler's first departure from his usual comedies, he plays his usual character with anger but we know why he has problems and that's whats understandable about Sandler, Anderson also showing us that Sandler can do more than just dimwit comedy.

"Punch-Drunk Love" is the kind of film that sneaks up behind you, it's odd. No, I'm serious. This is Sandler's best.

The film is very touching and delightful, "Punch-Drunk Love" is (and always will be) the crowning achievement within Anderson's filmography. You think Sandler can only do is comedy? No, he can do more thanks to this unique piece of charm and talented Paul Thomas Anderson.