Starring: Jack Nicholson, Adam Sandler, Marisa Tomei
Director: Peter Segal
Rated: M15+
DAVE Buznik (Adam Sandler) has been picked on all his life, from the kids on the block to his abusive boss.
He needs some assertiveness training. His request for a headset on a plane is misconstrued to be an angry complaint. In the jumpy post 9/11 world, an air marshall intervenes and zaps him into submission.
When Dave lands in court the judge decides to send him to anger management therapy with Dr Buddy Rydell (Jack Nicholson).
Another unfortunate scrap in a bar lands Dave back in court. Dr Rydell suggests Dave needs intensive anger management therapy and offers to move into Dave’s apartment for 30 days to administer the treatment.
On paper and in the trailers for Anger Management, Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson look a great combination.
Sandler has a deadpan face and a wonderful vocal range. Nicholson delivers his lines in a similar way in all his films, but has one of the most expressive faces in the business.
As well as these two play off each other in Anger Management, it is a poor vehicle for their considerable talents.
This film does not run out of steam because, despite its humorous set up, it never gets on the boil.
The plane scene at the beginning of the film, which kicks off all Dave’s problems, is the only hilarious sustained gag in the show.
After that it’s all down hill with over-drawn characters, sexual innuendo, coarse language and crudity throughout.
As in all humour, there is some important truth in this film and Dave’s traumatic childhood marks out his adult compliance. In Anger Management he’s damned if he expresses it or not.
The film’s pay-off is so far fetched that more than one viewer might need some anger management therapy at the end.
Dave thinks the 30 days with Buddy will never end and, unfortunately, that’s how the film feels as well.
