Punch-Drunk Love

Reviewed by EWAN McDONALD

(Herald rating: * * * * )

Yes, for several years I have railed against the dumbing-down of Hollywood and its obsession with childish movies (not childlike, because that is a warm and innocent and lovable place) that are less about entertainment and more about parting kids of all ages from their pocket money. Some (oh, okay, one) person has written to tell me that I am old and out of touch and should be moved aside. Others (far more rational and sensible souls, I suggest) have agreed.

To them, I apologise in advance because today I'm going to be nice about the person who has contributed more than anyone to the state of popular entertainment that I've ranted about: Adam Sandler.

Because this really is a good movie, largely because Sandler handed over control to an emerging master, Paul Thomas Anderson, director of Boogie Nights and Magnolia, and allowed Anderson to bring out a Sandler that most viewers of his earlier work, like the appalling and exploitative Big Daddy, the execrable Mr Deeds or the recent Anger Management, will not recognise.

Sandler plays Barry Egan, whose company markets novelty toiletries (now there's a set-up that the old Sandler would have exploited). He has seven sisters who invade his privacy, order him around, and put him down. Every so often, the bland and boring Egan lashes out.

As in Magnolia, Anderson connects people through seemingly unconnected events. Egan meets Lena Leonard (Emily Watson), a fellow executive who asks him to look after her broken-down car and later goes out on a date with him.

They like each other right away. In his parallel life, Egan is battling a phone-sex company because, though he called the number, he was unable to talk with the woman who took his call. The woman ripped him off and the company has sent its minders after him.

Back in Life #1, Egan knows Lena is going to Honolulu on a business trip and wants to join her but doesn't have enough air points.

When he gets there, Anderson drops in one of those romantic Waikiki Beach scenes that could only have come from someone who grew up on Gidget Goes to Hawaii ... until the porn-phone king (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and his minders kick sand in his face, so to speak. Will Egan's anger surface again?

When he took on the commission, Anderson said he loves Sandler's comedies because they cheer him up on lonely Saturday nights.

While we're hoping that none of us has lonely Saturday nights for the next few weeks ... until November 22, at least ... this is one that's definitely worth booking for those nights on which there's nothing happening in the World Cup.

DVD features: movie (89min); Blossoms & Blood (12-minute feature including alternate takes, Jeremy Blake artwork, Jon Brion's Here We Go music video); deleted scenes; trailer; additional artwork.