Needless to say, these days movies featuring Adam Sandler carries a dark cloud over them. After his flourishing success in the nineties, recent times have hit the once famous comedian hard. Prepare yourself as I take you back to 2006, in a time when comedy hit that ‘awkward teen stage,’ in that it wasn’t quite typical “nineties humour” yet hadn’t transitioned into the current form of comedy pillaging our screens. For me, Click is a prime example of one of these comedies which tried a little to hard. Not to mention, became the first Sandler movie that not only disappointed me, but angered me.
The film’s plot seemed to be like a stereotypical time-travelling film, with an interesting twist. However the laughs just weren’t there and it felt like watching more of a trainwreck than a simple fantasy-comedy film.
Who Is In It?
Aside from Sandler, this film actually contains a lot of fairly recognisable faces. Kate Beckinsale plays Sandler‘s wife on screen while the previously mentioned Christopher Walken plays the apparent angel of death who gives Sandler‘s character the remote in the first place.
The cast further includes David Hasselhoff, Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings), Jonah Hill (Superbad, 21 Jump Street), James Earl Jones (Star Wars, Lion King), Rob Schneider (Grown Ups), Katie Cassidy (Taken, Arrow), Cameron Monaghan (Gotham) and Julie Kavner (The Simpsons).
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS!]
Click is a so-called fantasy-comedy, following Michael Newman (Adam Sandler) a not-so-great father and husband who allows his work to rule his life. While in the market for a remote control, of all things, Michael falls onto a bed in the shop he is perusing. He moves on and accidentally bumps into a peculiar man, played by the great Christopher Walken. Walken hands Michael a “universal” remote control, along with a very ominous warning before disappearing.
Michael begins to realise his new remote control can somehow alter time, using the fast-forward and rewind elements for his amusement. However, like any good character, he starts to abuse the power of the remote for his own benefit. Nothing about this film so far is too annoying. It takes a while for the film to set up the plot. Although, it is only when he starts taking his time-travelling to an extreme when the originally light-hearted comedy takes a darker turn – and not for the better.
Michael starts going decades into the future and catching glimpses into his future life that no one would want to see. Ten years into the future, Michael realises, while he is fairly wealthy and has become the CEO of the company he works for, he has also become unhealthy and obese. So, he returns to his own time, only to realise he has divorced his wife (Kate Beckinsale) and his entire family dislike him. This now uncomfortable turn in the film goes from bad to worse as Michael suffers from a coma, goes through the death of his father (which he depressingly realises he wasn’t present for), two heart attacks and ultimately actually dies because of this remote control.
Is It Really Bad?
Click doesn’t really include the sort of content you would expect from a comedy of this type. It was as if half way through making this film, the writers forgot what sort of genre they were aiming for. But don’t worry because this film tries to save the depressing ending by adding in an element no film-viewer can appreciate – after his death, Michael is seen waking up, still on the bed he fell onto in the beginning of the film. You guessed it – it was all a dream.
Admittedly, I was quite young when I first watched Click. So maybe I’m still carrying on the hatred I felt when first watching it. However, even now I can’t think of a redeeming feature for this film. It is depressing and confusing as Sandler continuously travels back and forth through time until you can’t really remember what is happening. It doesn’t have the laughs a Sandler comedy used to. Perhaps it would have a better time impressing me if it was labelled as a fantasy-drama but even then, the performances just were’t up to scratch. And any film which ends with the “it was all a dream” clichée don’t sit well with me.
Who Is In It?
Aside from Sandler, this film actually contains a lot of fairly recognisable faces. Kate Beckinsale plays Sandler‘s wife on screen while the previously mentioned Christopher Walken plays the apparent angel of death who gives Sandler‘s character the remote in the first place.
The cast further includes David Hasselhoff, Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings), Jonah Hill (Superbad, 21 Jump Street), James Earl Jones (Star Wars, Lion King), Rob Schneider (Grown Ups), Katie Cassidy (Taken, Arrow), Cameron Monaghan (Gotham) and Julie Kavner (The Simpsons).
What Movie Should I Watch Instead?
Why not take out one of Sandler‘s classics? Try out Mr. Deeds or Happy Gilmore!
As for Click, I recommend giving it a miss!
Doing a little of this, a little of that. If you see me holding a camera, run!
