Anger Management - Review by Y.Misdaq aka Yoshi

Title: Anger Management
Director: (does it really matter?)
Cast: Adam Sandler, Jack Nicholson, Marissa Tomei
Released: 2003

I once saw Terminator 2: Judgement day at the cinema. I didn't even understand the storyline, as I was on holiday in France with family at the time, but needless to say, I came out of the cinema feeling good. Well it's been a while since I came out of a hyped up, mainstream film and felt that good. That's why I am reviewing this film right here and now. Anger Management is one of the funniest typically 'hollywood' films I have seen for a while. The reason this film is so likeable and acceptable is Jack Nicholson. Quite simply, he has enough credability as an actor and comedian, that the whole film gradually embodies his irresistable charm. Yes, his 'irresistable charm' :)

The story is straightforward enough, Adam Sandler's character is a very timid guy, and for some unimportant reason he gets caught up in a court order forcing him to undergo anger management. Enter Jack Nicholson, exit all importance of the plot. Sit back, relax enjoy his rapid eyebrow movements, his laughing, his energy. The most satisfying thing about his performance is that he gives it his all, you can tell he believed in the film, and his acting really makes you appreciate the difference between a normal/average comedy and an effective comedy.

Adam Sandler returns the no-nonsense sort of comedic role he's accustomed to after a brief departue for the brilliant Punch Drunk Love. He's funny, but he can't possibly over-take Nicholson, who's eccentric character was always going to get more laughs. Fortunately, like a good team player, Sandler is content to sit on the bench and let Nicholson be the main man, even though Nicholsons character is essentially secondary to Sandlers in the script. As we are introduced to the actual anger management therapy group, the film really takes shape, all the characters undertaking therapy are characters in every sense of the word, their extreme personalities, if accepted, make for many entertaining laughs.

John Turturro has always been a talented actor, however his small roles in classics like Do the right thing, Fearless, The Big Lebowski and O brother where art thou, have ensured he is regarded as one of the best actors in the world. That's no understatement. If he didn't have a face full of such unique character he would probably have played every major dramatic role in hollywood by now. His role in this film is insane. I've never seen someone so genuinely 'lose it' in front of the camera. Just go and see this film for his performance, I'm not going to elaborate further.

Does the film have faults? As surely as bears do things in the woods, this film has a few negatives. Firstly and most importantly, it has a schmaltzy (is that how you spell schmaltzy?) and very corny ending. That's a shame, but despite the brilliant performances, which is essentially what makes this a brilliant film, the actual story-line is pretty standard throughought, so that corny ending can't come as too much of a surprise. The fight scene that you'll see in the Buddhist temple doesn't really do much for me either, putting aside my disgust at any religion being disrespected for the sake of comedy, (or anything else for that matter) the very cliched notion of 'peaceful Buddhists' losing their temper is not only boring, but very tired. Religion isn't an easy target anymore, because our society is too advanced -in terms of multi-culturalism- to be drawn backwards ten years for the sake of comedy.

Sermon over, this is a funny film. Go and see it before you die. You'll probably laugh a lot.

Y.Misdaq aka Yoshi