Anger Management

Review by Adam Butler

Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson are perfectly cast in this buddy comedy about an angry young man fighting to get out of a sane man's body.

Nicholson plays Dr. Buddy Rydell, an anger management consultant ordered by the court to tame the temper of Dave Buznik (Sandler) after an altercation with staff on a domestic flight.

A therapist best described as unconventional, Buddy decides the best course of treatment would be an intensive one as he becomes what could be the latest American household accessory - the live-in therapist.

And there you have it - the original odd couple.

Except this time there's method to the madness: Buddy has a month to turn Buznik into a man least likely to climb the clock tower with a rifle, or our angry young hero will be carted off to prison.

It sounds like a movie you've seen before, but you haven't. This isn't a comedy about a guy who likes his socks folded, living with a bloke who likes them rolled.

It's about a guy with problems who is forced to come to terms with them, in a funny kind of Adam Sandler-movie way. This is what will eventually become known as 'classic Sandler'. Fast and fresh gags rounded out with a story you're actually interested in hearing.

If it weren't for an appearance by Marisa Tomei, Anger Management would be damn near perfect. Tomei plays Sandler's sappy girlfriend. He doesn't like to kiss her in public, and frankly you can understand why.

His reason - a childhood horror story involving a first kiss and a 'dacking'. As an audience we have a much better reason - she just doesn't belong there.

Comedy isn't a genre that Jack tends to visit often, but when he does the result is always brilliant. As Buddy Rydell, Jack's quite simply a joy to watch. And talk about cool. Rydell's the kind of old man that young men aspire to be! He even manages to make wearing a beret look cool, and that takes some effort.

Anger Management also features some brilliant cameos and set pieces by well-known Hollywood faces. It's a testament not only to the star power of its headliners, but also to the quality of the film itself.

Everyone likes to be attached to a hit, and this time Sandler's almost guaranteed one.

3.5 out of 5

Anger Management
Australian release: Thursday April 17th
Cast: Adam Sandler, Jack Nicholson, Marisa Tomei, Luis Guzman, Lynne Thigpen.
Director: Peter Segal.
Website: Click here

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