Click
is the latest Adam Sandler vehicle and like most of his films, it's sure to make
a crap-load of money. Too bad it's not all that good. Which isn't to suggest that
it's "Little Nicky-bad," there's no doubt it has it's moments (the film's
funniest joke is made at the expense of tic tacs), but overall - it never really
finds it's comic-footing. Click is further undermined by an old school twist -
one that I picked up on in the first ten minutes. If you ask me, it's something
of a cop-out and a cheap shot - particularly when you take into consideration
how the movie ends.
In
Click, Sandler plays Michael Newman, a celebrated architect on the fast track
to success. He has a gorgeous wife (played by the stunning Kate Beckinsale) and
two adorable children, but like most people in his situation, he begins to find
it increasingly challenging to juggle his professional ambitions with his responsibilities
at home.
One evening,
while trying to view a video-taped architecture seminar, Michael becomes frustrated
when he can't find the right remote for all his television gadgetry. In a fit
of aggravation he heads over to his local Bed, Bath and Beyond hoping to find
the ultimate universal remote. After wandering into the "Beyond" department,
he meets the helpful, but somewhat peculiar Morty (played by the endlessly eccentric
Christopher Walken), a nutty sales rep with a barrage of fascinating gizmos, one
of which just happens to be a universal remote.
Michael
takes the remote without thinking twice about it, but when he returns to his home,
it's not long before he discovers that this impressive handful of technology is
capable of remote controlling things well "beyond" the television.
As
you might expect from the many snippets that you've no doubt seen in it's TV ads
and trailers, Click is an awfully gimmicky film. Sandler spends much of the film
fast-forwarding through the unpleasantries of life - skipping right to the fun
and exciting stuff. All, of course, courtesy of his newest and most cherished
friend his magical remote. As handy and helpful as his newfound abilities certainly
are, it isn't long before he starts fo feel the slightest twinges of regret as
he realizes that he's missing-out on the real stuff of life. As I said - gimmicky.
Through
the rewinding and fast forwarding, we get glimpses of the selfish Sandler, the
overweight Sandler (Rick Baker's make up effects are sensational by the way),
as well as the senior citizen Sandler. Click's tone is hardly original. In fact
the pacing and style smack more of a Jim Carrey vehicle - Bruce Almighty and Liar
Liar, in particular. As far as the narrative is concerned, it certainly borrows
most obviously from Scrooge (you could consider it a re-imagining of A Christmas
Carol) with bold nods to It's A Wonderful Life and a dash of the Wizard of Oz
thrown in for good measure.
Sandler
gets the job done, I suppose. Thanks to his collaborations with P.T. Anderson
(Punch Drunk Love) and James L. Brooks (Spanglish), he's certainly improved as
a dramatic actor, but the material here is decidedly juvenile and never rises
above it's vehicle restrictions. As a result the moments that call for Sandler
to wax emotional or dramatic don't resonate with any kind of authenticity. Still,
there's some quite likable physical schtick. In particular I loved a bit in which
an irritated Sandler scales a chain-link fence at lightning quick speed in an
attempt to take out a bunch of slackers who try to get the better of him. Ultimately
though, the movie never finds the right balance between the wacky and somewhat
crude comedy it is and the charming, heart-warmer it aspires to play as in the
end.
Christopher
Walken is great fun (although I could have done without the reveal of his true
identity), but then he always is. I could stare at Kate Beckinsale for hours,
but sadly, she's saddled with a rather thankless role here. The wit that she so
often puts on display on late night talk shows is lost on this cardboard character.
Henry Winkler and Julie Kavner are sweet as Michael's loving parents. Jennifer
Coolidge is a riot in a bit part as Kate Beckinsale's dysfunctional sister. David
Hasselhoff is perfectly over-the-top as Michael's boss. Sean Astin is underused
as a swim coach but seeing him prance around in a speedo is worth the price of
admission alone.
Click
was directed by Sandler collaborator Frank Coraci, and he sort of does here for
the early 90's what he did for the 80's in The Wedding Singer. I have to give
props for his excellent choices in music (I maintain that Ultra Violet is one
of U2's most underrated songs, and I was pleased to see it's inclusion in this
movie). Also, watch for a cameo by the Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan as –
surprise! A wedding singer.
Unfortunately,
Click is extremely disjointed, all too sappy and once the clicker gimmick starts
to wear thin, there isn't much to fall back on. It doesn't have much of a rhythm,
and again, the balance is off. As was the case with Sandler's 50 First Dates,
the dick and fart jokes in Click undermine it's attempts at sweetness and heart.
I certainly could have done without a sequence in which Sandler farts in David
Hasselhoff's face. Seriously, it isn't nearly as funny as it sounds. I also could
have done without repeated shots of the family dog humping a stuffed duck. Just
dull, unimaginative schtick. I couldn't help but think as Click wore on, that
it would have been nice to have had a remote there in the theater. I could've
had us out of there in 45 minutes and improved it to boot.
Click
is pretty forgettable. It never reaches the manic heights of Sandler's best comical
work (Happy Gilmore) nor does it attain the sincerity and charm of The Wedding
Singer. It's too bad really, because when the film introduced a character with
the last name O'Doyle (take note Billy Madison fans) I thought I was in for a
rollicking good time. Unfortunately, this is a sub par movie. My suggestion is
wait for Click on DVD, then you have the option to fast forward to the good parts.
