Click. How do I loathe thee? Let me count the ways:
Firstly, it’s an Adam Sandler movie, and I’ve never been a big fan of his. I don’t find his childish humour or annoying voices amusing in the slightest and Little Nicky has to be near the top of my most hated films list (particularly cos it features so many cameos of respected performers). In fact the only film of his I really enjoyed was Punch Drunk Love, so if you are keen on his work, then feel free to go out and see Click regardless of what I say.
Third: one of Australia’s best known kids’ authors Paul Jennings wrote a story entitled ‘Spaghetti Pig Out’ which featured a magic remote control that affected living things with hilarious results. It was brought to life in the series ‘Round The Twist’ in 1989. I’m willing to accede that maybe many haven’t seen this TV show, but then again it has been screened at least two other continents (I saw it in Brazil for frig’s sake). Why is this a problem? Well, I’m feeling very patriotic just at this moment and it makes me angry when Hollywood doesn’t acknowledge that which has been done before.
Fourth: the first half (idiotic toilet humour, animals masturbating etc.) is suddenly pushed out of the way to make way for a very emotive and dramatic second half which makes the film feel incredibly awkward… and do you know what? It is EFFECTIVE. It got to me! I was stifling tears and quite frankly it made me feel dirty. WHY should I be reduced to a quivering wreck because of a movie that started out with a man farting in another’s face? What’s more, the jokes made courtesy of ultra-sexist/racist caricatures actually go further than being witty and insightful comments about our multicultural society, and in fact come right back around to being sexist and racist. To be subjected to all this potty humour and then have a dramatic core that actually affected me… I feel… well… violated. And I’m not happy about it!
And finally here come the supplementary complaints: Kate Beckinsale (Underworld: Evolution) looks ridiculous in this film, not only as the spineless wife of an annoying slob, but because she’s completely unbelievable as the oh so clichéd stay at home mum who looks like she’s just walked out of a hairdresser’s at any given moment. Christopher Walken’s here too, delivering another fine performance but he really deserves more. Damn it… even the Hoff deserves more!
To be honest, it’s not a bad film… there’s just two many fury inducing elements that prevent me from really enjoying it. It goes out of its way to appeal to both puerile gross-out comedy fans and those up for a decent chick flick and in the meantime simply pisses me off.