Click (2006)

Click is a half drama, half comedy about a consummate workaholic who is too busy to have time for his family. In a fit of frustration about nearly every aspect of his life, he does what every man does in his situation: he goes shopping at Bed Bath & Beyond for a universal remote. As luck has it, this store actually has a “Beyond” section with its own Christopher Walken manning the counter. He finds the universal remote he needs and slowly discovers that it can be used to fast-forward, rewind, or even turn on the commentary track of one’s entire life–the track being narrated by James Earl Jones, something I think should be required on every life’s work.

This film is surprisingly excellent.  It addresses the theme of power & control over our personal urges and desires, the thesis ultimately stating that family should probably come first.  There are spots with flaky dialogue and corny product tie-ins, but once those get out of the way it really begins to shine.  Sandler turns in a good performance and my fears that this would be a film about fart jokes and pot humor were quickly alleviated.  It’s really a powerful story about how toying around with a universal-life-remote can have some pretty heavy consequences.  Thankfully, it comes with a very clear set of rules which allow it to be both sentimental and tragic in a manner admittedly not typical of Happy Madison Productions.

I think that Click is a movie you could repeatedly watch and enjoy more as you get older.  Sure, there are a few things that are a little weak–like the cardinal sin of fast-forwarding through sexy times with Kate Beckinsale (who in their right mind would do such a thing?) and the decision to not stick the ending (you’ll know it when it happens)–but the fundamental truth about the film could best be summarized by the ancient Greek axiom “an unexamined life is one not worth living.”  It’s inspiration, plain and simple.

A

Billy Madison (1995)

Billy Madison is a movie about a rich guy who is functionally retarded and supposed heir of the incredibly successful Madison Hotels.  His dad is looking to retire, but doesn’t feel the company is in good hands with his inept son at the wheel.  When he decides to let Billy’s lifelong rival take the helm, Billy quickly develops a plan that would see Billy rightfully getting Madison Hotels if he can successfully retake classes from elementary and high school over something like 8 weeks.

This movie is generally regarded as Adam Sandler’s best [that he wrote/produced].  I believe it was also the first.  It certainly follows his SNL dynamic where he comes up with a character that is wildly immature, does a lot of silly things, and doesn’t really develop any sophistication.  It’s a good idea once.  This is why Billy Madison succeeds where his later efforts simply failed.

The best parts of this movie were the classroom segments.  It seems actually kind of interesting to be an adult going through the education system, where those systems are largely unchanged in spite the presence of one.  The kids were pretty good, the atmosphere was light-hearted and really helped camouflage the Madison character’s patheticness.  This is a good movie to have on in the background while you’re out golfing.

B