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Anger Management

At first glance, pairing Saturday Night Live alumnus Adam Sandler and seasoned actor Jack Nicholson is a recipe for the proverbial odd couple. After all, the two performers appeal to different audiences and bring dissimilar acting styles to the table. But if Anger Management is any indication of how two apparently mismatched actors work together, it's a match made in Hollywood.

Mild-mannered executive assistant Dave Buznik (Adam Sandler) doesn't need anger management therapy--at least, not until he meets acclaimed pop psychologist and anger management guru Dr. Buddy Rydell (Jack Nicholson). When Dave loses his seat on a plane during a business trip, the good doctor, who resembles one of his own patients, offers to share his seat. Despite Buddy's ensuing obnoxious behavior, which keeps Dave from getting some needed sleep, he maintains his composure.

That's pretty much been the story of his life going all the way back to childhood when a local bully pulled down Dave's pants in front of the whole neighborhood during his first kiss. Dave has been unable to publicly display affection ever since then, much to the distress of his lovely young girlfriend, Linda (Marisa Tomei). Her best friend, also an old college flame, has no such qualms. He, much like Dave's boss, walks all over the complacent secretary, and also makes relentless advances on Linda.

Everything changes for Dave after a "misunderstanding" with a flight attendant, which lands him in court with a mandate to attend anger management therapy. His therapist, as coincidence—or possibly fate—would have it, is Buddy Rydell, who hosts a hot-headed bunch at the local community center. Dave, who desires no part of the group, which includes a pair of lesbian adult film stars and a gay Latino, is told he'll be released from the program if he'll just stick it out for one session. However, Buddy quickly hoodwinks him into further "treatment" by pushing every emotional button he can find and pitting the group against the hapless newcomer.

After his partnering with fellow counselee, Chuck (John Turturro), goes disastrously wrong—his anger ally picks a barroom fight and Dave accidentally knocks out a waitress with a blind man's cane–the court orders him to undergo the next level of therapy. That means a new roommate, namely Buddy, who wastes no time antagonizing his new roomie. He also employs dubiously therapeutic techniques, which include stopping dead in the middle of traffic to sing "I feel pretty" from West Side Story as a calming exercise. Refuse any part of the treatment, the doctor warns, and he'll be singing in prison.

As the "therapy" turns increasingly outrageous, ranging from hooking up with a transvestite hooker to being forced to cheat on his girlfriend, Buddy begins moving in on Linda, to whom Dave is too timid to propose. To save his relationship, Dave will have to embrace the anger within, which leads to some surprising revelations about himself.

Anger Management, like most films of its genre, depends more on the personas of the comedians than it does on the script. Fortunately both Sandler and Nicholson are up to the challenge. The latter steals much of the spotlight as the eccentric, possibly half-insane doctor, a role tailored to Nicholson's simmering aggression and trademark sardonic grin. Sandler continues to successfully explore roles beyond the hot-headed buffoon type, demonstrating admirable development as both an actor and a comedian. His character is likable and funny, and all without aid of fart jokes and crude language. (Those that do make it into the film don't hurt, though.)

Sandler's fans, especially those who were disappointed by this past summer's Mr. Deeds, need not despair—this might not be one of the comedian's signature roles, but he still can't resist duking it out with a monk and Ray Liotta. Also look for cameos by Heather Graham, former mayor Rudolph Giuliani, and Woody Harrelson.

Although a bit uneven at times—some of the laughs are a bit strained, and the surprise ending isn't really so unexpected—Anger Management is successful on the whole. Nicholson and Sandler, working from a deliciously absurd script in roles they were born to play, are never boring to watch. Their juxtaposed comedic styles are quite complementary, mixing lowbrow humor with a few slightly more sophisticated laughs. It even has a message about standing up for yourself, but the best thing to do is just kick back on the chaise lounge and enjoy.

Written by: Michael McDonough

Reviewers Rating: 8
Reader's Rating: 5.90
Reader's Votes: 21

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