| | |
Click a Poster to Purchase
 |  | Get Showtimes... |
Review #162 of 365
Film: Click (2006) [PG-13] 97 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $13.00
Where Viewed: AMC Loews Meridian 16 Seattle, WA
When 1st Seen: 23 June 2006
Time: 9:50 p.m.
Review Dedicated to: Daniel S. and Vincent G. of Staten Island, NY
 |
| DVD |
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
In one of my rants and raves about movie previews, I was very harsh on the publicity campaign for Click feeling they gave away too much, and I was right. They did give away too much, however, there is so much more to the film you may barely remember what was in the preview vs. the film anyway. Click also continues an unusual tradition where 'every-other' film starring a former SNL cast member will be a success—and by that I mean, it will be a good movie, not that it makes money. If you check out Adam Sandler's filmography, you will find I am correct with two exceptions: Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison came right in a row, most people loved Billy Madison, I did not, so for me that one still works, and Big Daddy and The Water Boy came right in a row. I did care for The Water Boy, so for me, again, it still works. I respect people that loved all four movies, I just don't agree with them about two of the films. So, Adam Sandler was due for not only a great movie, but a character that few others could play. The greatest things about Adam Sandler as an actor are that he looks like a real person, he has fun playing his characters--so he really becomes them, and he balances this inner child with his grown-up exterior brilliantly. That's why I loved him in what was my favorite of his movies, Big Daddy. There is a lot of Sonny Koufax in his latest character, Michael Newman. Michael is a New York City architect for the firm of Mr. Ammer (David 'in a rare US appearance' Hasselhoff). He works himself to the bone to make a better life for his kids than he had growing up. Unfortunately, he is not able to see that he had the better life than the one his is giving his kids because his father (Henry Winkler) was actually a part of his life, whereas he works so much his kids and wife (Kate 'Underworld' Beckinsale) rarely see him. In one of the most blatant and yet not overly obnoxious product placements in recent cinematic history, Michael go to Bed, Bath, and Beyond to search out a universal remote control at the urging of his kids so that he can control the various radio controlled devices in his house rather than opening the garage when he's trying to turn on the television. When he arrives, he heads through a doorway marked "Way Beyond" and his curiosity leads him to an encounger with Morty (Christoper Walken). Morty is sort of a cross between Albert Einstein and Jack Skellington. Morty hooks Michael up with the deal of a lifetime, a Universal Remote Control that Remote Controls his universe. He can mute the barking dog, fast forward through an argument with his wife, play with his rgb tint, and so many other cool things I won't spoil. Well, this movie wouldn't be half the film it is were there not a feature of the remote that wreaks havoc on Michael's life in a unique and unsettling way. They do give it away in the preview, but for those who haven't seen it, I won't ruin it here. Suffice it to say that Morty is more than he claims, the remote does more than it should, and Michael learns one of life's greatest lessons—live your life, don't sail through on auto-pilot.
"Click is fun, inventive, and clever… You will want to get your hands on the Universal Remote Control and hit rewind a few times."
This film probably will be the sleeper comedy / date movie of the summer. It has come out with mild fanfare, nothing like your usual summer blockbuster, and I think it will pay off. This film will get great word-of-mouth publicity for free! Every single role was perfectly cast and wonderfully portrayed. And the main adult cast including Michael's parents plus Michael and Kate themselves must go through an aging process unlike any I think I've ever seen. They all look perfect. If the make-up artists don't get an Academy-Award nomination, something is rotten in New Amsterdam. Meanwhile, the special effect wizardry was incredible. Some things we've seen before, but never all these different effects in the same film. Moreover, Click is a film that keeps getting better and better as it rolls. I couldn't believe it was only 97-minutes long. The time flew by. Moreover, Michael is forced to confront the downfalls of his life choices in sort of an It's A Wonderful Life-fashion. Without giving away the ending, I know some people are going to cry foul. Well, let them. I thought it was just right, and fit the film perfectly. There were a few, some would say serious, drawbacks to the film which included: some crude humor, some crude and malicious pranks, a series of intimate family pet encounters with a stuffed duck, some gender-biased jokes, some internal stereotyping, and quite a few references to Michael's miniscule masculine endowment a birth. Normally, I would probably have a harder time over-looking these elements as each is quite distasteful in and of their own right; however, this film is so creative, hilarious, and fun, I had a hard time being too critical despite my strict observance to many people's scapegoat du jour 'political correctness'. They will take their toll as they should, however, in the W.I.P. Scale™ calculation. Overall, Click is fun, inventive, and clever. There is a lot to be learned not just about how to live your life in a more meaningful and fulfilling way, but also how to let those in your life know how much they mean to you while you have the chance to do so. You won't want to change the channel during this film. You will want to get your hands on the Universal Remote Control and hit rewind a few times.
Back to Top | W.I.P. Scale™ | Most Recently Reviewed Films | Films of 2005 | Films of 2006
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Available for Purchase or Pre-Order on DVD
Find your movies at MoviesUnlimited.com.
Click [Blu-ray](2006)
Click [DVD](2006) DVD
Click (UMD For PlayStation Portable)(2006)
Adam Sandler Movies • Christopher Walken Movies
Julie Kavner Movies and TV Shows • Henry Winkler Movies and TV Shows
David Hasselhoff Movies and TV Shows • Kate Beckinsale Movies
Sean Astin Movies
| VHS | DVD | |
| Related DVD | Related DVD | Related Product |
Click (2006) Review-lite [150-word cap]
Adam Sandler was due for a great movie. Pause. Focus on the new film, Click, and the character, Michael Newman, a hard-working architect with a self-important boss (David Hasselhoff). Poor Michael works himself to the bone dreaming of a better life for his kids than he had and incapable of seeing that he had the better life because his father (Henry Winkler) was actually a part of it. Rewind. Insert "and his wife (Kate Beckinsale)" after "kids". Fast Forward. The gift of a Universal Remote Control that remote controls his universe changes everything giving him, he thinks, time to do everything he's always wanted to do and more. Alas, the remote does more than it should, and Michael learns one of life's greatest lessons—live your life, don't sail through on auto-pilot. Some crude humor and hijinx prevent this film from reaching perfection, yet it is still well worth a click.
No comments:
Post a Comment