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Review #183 of 365
Film: Click [PG-13] 97 minutes
WIP™ Scale: (1st review $13.50 + 2nd review $13.00) / 2 = $13.25
Where Viewed: AMC Flatiron Crossing 14, Broomfield, CO
When 2nd Seen: 12 July 2006
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Review Dedicated to: Dr. Special K., Big Mac McCormac, Coach Tem-Tem, and Rochelle Rochelle Tenenbaum
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
The second time you see the Adam Sandler film Click (see first review), if you are like me, something will hit your smack in the face that might not the first time. This film is not really a comedy. Yes, it has some very funny parts—and some very crude and unnecessary parts too—yet, really the film is a drama with a very poignant message. Unlike in my first review of a film, in the second I may choose to give way some plot points. So, if you wish not to have plot ruined for you prior to seeing the film, please read no further and just read the first review.
To wit, the dramatic nature of the film boils down to this: the most important thing in life is family and making sure you spend quality time with them, put them first, and realize that becoming a work-aholic while living under some delusion that your behavior is not only justified but critical to the survival of your family ultimately leads to a life of bitter loss. And thus it is for Michael Newman (Adam Sandler). Though he was raised by free spirit Jewish parents who believed in family first, he grew up feeling that his parents sacrifices for the love of the family vs. being able to vacation in an RV vs. a tent were ones he would not make for his children. He would get a job in a very prominent architectural firm, work his way to the top, earn zillions of dollars, and ensure that their every whim was covered. The price he would have to pay, of course, is that he would never see them to enjoy all that he had afforded for them; and, likewise, they would never see him.
To wit, the dramatic nature of the film boils down to this: the most important thing in life is family and making sure you spend quality time with them, put them first, and realize that becoming a work-aholic while living under some delusion that your behavior is not only justified but critical to the survival of your family ultimately leads to a life of bitter loss. And thus it is for Michael Newman (Adam Sandler). Though he was raised by free spirit Jewish parents who believed in family first, he grew up feeling that his parents sacrifices for the love of the family vs. being able to vacation in an RV vs. a tent were ones he would not make for his children. He would get a job in a very prominent architectural firm, work his way to the top, earn zillions of dollars, and ensure that their every whim was covered. The price he would have to pay, of course, is that he would never see them to enjoy all that he had afforded for them; and, likewise, they would never see him.
It takes a savvy angel named Morty (Christopher Walken) to swoop into his life early and help him see the errors of his logic. He does so by giving Michael a universal remote control that remote controls his universe, quite literally. He can mute the dog, change his tint from yellow to red to purple to green, pause time, put things in slow motion, and unfortunately, fast forward through events he'd rather not be a part of…getting stuck in traffic, taking a cold shower, dinners with his parents, getting sick, waiting for a promotion, and arguments with his wife. Unfortunately, he does not realize that the remote control learns from his choices and starts to fast forward automatically when any of these similar events arise causing him to miss months and then years of his life. When in fast forward mode, his body is present but his mind is preoccupied. So, over the course of him being in fast forward mode, he ultimately loses his wife and becomes a 400lb man. As he pops back and forth between the play and fast forward modes, he comes to realize more and more the value of his family connections and the tremendous loss he endures by not being able to be a part of the lives of his children.
I loved the concept of what this movie teaches so much, I was very eager to see it a second time. My feeling now, however, is one of major disappointment for it dawned on me as I sat teary-eyed at the end that this movie had the makings of a Best Picture nomination. Strip out 90% of the unnecessary crude comedy there only to appease juvenile fans of Mr. Sandler who see his movies, I guess, for these parts, and throw in a bit more of the impact his virtual absence has his children as they grow up and his wife as they grow further and further apart, set the film in December, have the family celebrate Hanukah, highlight the incredible work done in the film by Henry Winkler and Julie Kavner as Michael's doting parents, and you have a potential Academy Award®-nominee to follow in the footsteps of It's a Wonderful Life. It's really too bad because this really could have been a film for the ages.
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
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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.
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