Anger Management review

After Nicholson and Sandler took their comedic talents into left field with their last ventures About Schmidt and Punch Drunk Love, Anger Management sees them return to more conventional pastures. Gone are pathos and subtlety, replaced instead with the high concept, lowbrow approach. Naturally, with Jack and Adam heading up proceedings, Anger Management has its moments, but too few to warrant a ringing endorsement or its record breaking opening Stateside.

When adopting an annoying voice and persona, Sandler can be hard to stomach, but when he tones things down he has a certain guileless innocence that is more palatable. It's a quality perfectly suited to the role of the mild-mannered Dave Buznik who more through misunderstanding than action, finds himself sentenced to attend anger management classes after an outburst of "air-rage". Given his own volatile reputation, Nicholson is the last person to be dispensing anger management advice. So, apparently, is his character, therapist Dr Buddy Rydell, which is why he clearly revels in the role, adopting his full repertoire of trademark expressions including his devilish grin. Trying to compete with an unrestrained Nicholson is a fruitless task and one that thankfully Sandler has the good sense not to attempt.

Rydell's treatment consists of dispensing such pat phrases as "temper is the one thing you can't get rid of by losing", to a colourful collection of crazies including traumatised Grenada vet Chuck, (John Turturro), the flamboyant Lou (Luis Guzmán) and two lesbian porn stars. To try and distract attention during the all too frequent gaps between laughs, a long list of celebrities were commandeered to put in cameo appearances, including John McEnroe and Mayor Giuliani. In addition, to bolster the all too flimsy plot, there are fleeting appearances by Heather Graham, Woody Harrelson and John C. Reilly. Neither ploy disguises the fact that Anger Management feels like a series of jokes without the punchlines.

As is often the case in Hollywood comedies, the sublime is swiftly followed by the ridiculous. In this instance it comes when, following another unfortunate incident, Rydell moves in with Buznik and takes to following him around everywhere. Having his life, including his relationship with his girlfriend Linda (Marisa Tomei), thrown into turmoil by the annoyingly smug Rydell, finally proves too much even for the normally passive Buznick to endure.

It is unnecessary to point out Anger Management's many failings. When stupidity is the benchmark, it doesn't take much to reach it.