Anger Management Review

In a pairing that would make any studio executive fairly faint with delight, teen favourite Adam Sandler and old dog Jack Nicholson unite for this supremely silly slice of comedy. Sandler plays mild-mannered Dave Buznik, who, after a misunderstanding aboard an aeroplane, is ordered by a judge to undergo anger management therapy with Nicholson's unorthodox Doctor Buddy Rydell. Bewildered by group sessions with a collection of crazed individuals and an even crazier mentor, Dave's problems only get worse when another mishap results in the good Doctor moving in with him and completely taking over his flat, his girlfriend and his job - all, of course, in the name of therapy.

What at first seems to be entirely a cynical casting ploy to hit as many demographic targets as possible turns out to be a surprising hit. Brilliantly exploiting his natural quality of sheer nuttiness on screen, Nicholson's Doctor Buddy is a splendid psychotic whose poor patient is played by Adam Sandler with a winning charm. An absolutely perfect supporting cast - including the likes of John Turturro, Heather Graham and John C Reilly as an irate Buddhist monk - also fleshes out the film with John McEnroe and ex New-York Mayor Rudolph Guilianni expertly playing their cameo appearances for laughs. And although the proceedings are lumbered with a distinctly cheesy finale, the giggle factor consistently remains high with the chaotic group therapy sessions proving particularly amusing. Moreover, any film with Woody Harrelson as a fetching German transvestite is always fine by me.