SNMR 4.7: "Anger Management"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "Anger Management" (2003, PG-13, 101 minutes), starring Adam Sandler, Jack Nicholson, Marisa Tomei, Allen Covert, John Turturro, Luis Gonzales, Woody Harrelson, January Jones and Krista Allen. The film was directed by Peter Segal.

The first time I watched this movie was in 2004 after it came out on DVD. I hadn't really heard about it before then. Since that time I've watched it several times and laugh every time.

PLOT SUMMARY
Dave Buznik (Sandler) is a quiet and shy corporate man with a beautiful girlfriend (Tomei) and a confidence problem which results in a lot of surpressed anger. When a misunderstanding occurs on a plane, Dave is sentenced to anger management therapy or jail time. He chooses the therapy and the counselor is none other than Dr. Rydell (Nicholson), who sat next to him on the plane. Rydell engages Buznik in intensive therapy which includes moving into the patient's apartment and dating his girlfriend, nearly driving him crazy. In the end the patient is cured and we all go home happy.

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS MOVIE:
Two words: Jack Nicholson. Need I say more?

The supporting cast is excellent but this movie would not be as funny as it is without Nicholson, who elevates everyone around him including Sandler, who submits his best performance in a career filled with average or forgettable roles. The script is good but not great. The direction is good because the story moves along at a nice pace. Former NY mayor Rudy Giuliani has a memorable line in a cameo appearance.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT THIS MOVIE:
Allen Covert's character is purposefully annoying which is good and bad. Other than that I really can't think of anything I really didn't like about this film.

**** out of *****