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Click
Directed by: Frank Coraci
Starring: Adam Sandler
Genre:
Comedy
Run Time: 107
min.
Release Date:
June 2006
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Watching CLICK is
like watching two separate movies. The blatant parallels to IT'S A
WONDERFUL LIFE are transparent, but that's not what makes Click
a clunker. Not that it is a clunker in its entirety, either.
The story surrounds Michael Newman (Adam Sandler, WATERBOY), an
architect who yearns for peace and harmony in his life. Part of the
problem is the competition (keeping up with the Jones') that he has
going on with his neighbors. They have a new RV, new toys and new cars,
while Michael and his family just get by. One evening he hears the
irritating boy next door talking about his father's new universal remote
control that's patched into everything (garage door, TV, stereo, etc.)
and it's all that Michael can take. So he heads out to the mall and
stops at (of all places) Bed, Bath and Beyond. It is the "Beyond" that
apparently pulls him in, but once inside all he finds are towels and
bedding. He lays down on one of these and then quickly spots a doorway
that says "Beyond". It looks rather ethereal yet inviting, so Michael
goes on in. What he finds is a whacked out looking guy named Morty
(Christopher Walken) who offers him a truly "Universal Remote." This
remote control does it all. It can rewind you to your birth so that you
can witness it (or your conception, something we should never
have to see), or it can fast-forward you through troubling times, like
arguments with your spouse or personal illnesses. The dangers of this
Universal Remote aren't evident right away. Apparently, as this magical
tool gets used to your requests, it does them automatically for you,
without you having to push a button. So when Michael fast forwards
through arguments with his wife Donna (Kate Beckinsale), the remote does
it automatically for him in the future. Thus, large chunks of what might
seem like inane discussions suddenly are wiped away.
Michael soon discovers that his life is in constant fast forward. His
job, his kids, his wife, even his own body, change in rapid succession
as the Universal Remote takes over. Trying to give back this dangerous
piece of machinery, we soon learn that Morty is much more than he seems.
The great thing about the film is the last 2/3 of it (with the exception
of the ending, which we'll cover in a moment). When people learn how
important life is, it's truly an eye-opener. And this is where Click
succeeds. When Sandler's character learns about death and how important
it is to live every second of every day, it is heart-renderingly pulled
off. We get to witness Sandler rewinding time and again the important
portions of his life that he missed. And, near the end of his own life,
we witness his evolution into a man of distinction, trying to save his
son from his own deadly mistakes related to family.
Where the film fails is the beginning and it's horribly clichéd ending.
The beginning of the film is filled with bathroom humor (farting in
people's faces) and gag jokes that sag under their own terrible weight.
This is where one feels like they are watching an entirely different
film when compared to the latter 2/3 of the movie. The characters are
one-dimensional and utterly unbelievable (quite the dichotomy from what
we see later). This isn't a character evolution issue as much as a
script failure.
The ending of the film is what finally gives it a poor rating. When we
see Sandler lay down at Bed, Bath and Beyond, a creeping disgust enters
the mind. The film-makers surely wouldn't use one of the oldest clichés
in the book, would they? But, oh yes, they did. Grrr! The unfortunate
thing about Click is that it really has a wonderful message and
some fine acting moments. Special effect make-up artist Rick Baker also
deserves much credit for the aging looks he puts the characters through,
from Henry Winkler's role as Sandler's father, to Sean Astin's speedo
and chubby swim instructor, it was one of the strongest aspects of the
entire production.
As a whole, the film fails because of its childish beginnings and
over-used style ending. But make no mistake, there are some great
moments in here. Just not enough to give it a high ranking.
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Image from Click
DVD cost: $25.99
Purchase:
BestPrices.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
When Michael revisits his
first kiss, Janine is wearing a Bart Simpson T-Shirt. Michael's mother,
Trudy, is played by Julie Kavner, who plays Marge Simpson on "The
Simpsons" (1989).
Movie Quote: "No
one else in the world has one. Just point ...and click."
Other Actors/Actresses
from Click
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