The most peculiar pairings I’ve seen in film can be boiled down to one film, and Anger Management (2003) is definitely that movie. Remember when Adam Sandler was climbing the ladder to fame, making us laugh with his quirky humor and all that 90s humor? Well, this 2003 gem throws him into the ring with the legendary Jack Nicholson, who, let’s face it, was already sipping his tea at the end of his career. In theory, this duo works great, but no duo can work great without good writing. So, it’s a bit like expectations versus reality, and reality is very disappointing this time around.
How to Download Anger Management
Anger Management was released on April 11, 2003. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice. If you’re interested in other films by Steve Segal, check out our reviews of Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, The Longest Yard, or Get Smart.
Anger Management: A Detailed Review
The story follows an average Joe named Dave Buznik. Dave has been diagnosed with anger issues by the local court, and he now must go through court-ordered anger management therapy. Enter Dr. Buddy Rydell, the unorthodox therapist with his own peculiar ways.
Cue bizarre situations, like making Dave wear a baby costume or facing off against a Buddhist monk. It’s a rollercoaster ride of absurd therapy methods and…well, oddball chaos.
Let’s address the elephant in the room—this script is more predictable than any other film that Sandler has done in his career. It’s as basic as a McDonald’s Cheeseburger, and the jokes? Well, they miss more than a drunk archer who was blindfolded. Some do tend to land well, but most of the jokes nosedive into cringe-town faster than you can say anger management. The attempts at humor often feel like the writers just threw ideas at the wall trying to see what sticks…
Spoiler alert, nothing really does.
Direction and Performance in Anger Management
Peter Segal tries to navigate this wacky ship with his direction, but sometimes it feels like he’s just sitting back and letting Sandler and Nicholson do their thing. There’s an attempt at weaving in some emotional depth, but it’s like trying to plant a garden in concrete. It just doesn’t grow. Sandler and Nicholson—a dynamic duo on paper. But the chemistry? It’s barely there. Sandler’s doing his usual shtick, while Nicholson… well, he’s pretty much phoning it in.
You can almost see him mentally cashing his paycheck scene by scene. The supporting cast tries their best, but they’re like seasoning trying to save an overcooked dish—only doing so much.
Visuals and Soundtrack: An Overview
I won’t even try to get too deep about this film’s visuals, it’s as basic as a comedy film can get. This was during the early 2000s when all American films looked the same, and then you had comedies, which had even less variety. This film is as standard as it can get, almost as if they went off of templates when shooting it.
It kind of looks like you’re watching a sitcom but on a slightly bigger screen. The production is the same story, with almost nothing to truly latch onto here. Let’s just say, if “meh” had a visual representation, this would be it.
The soundtrack is also the same story, zone out for a few seconds and you’ll miss it. Not that there’s anything worth remembering anyway. The soundtrack feels like a forgotten background noise. Nothing memorable, nothing dreadful—just there. I would talk more about it, but there’s barely anything to talk about in terms of the music, it’s as basic and unmemorable as it can get.
The only compliment I can give it is that it wasn’t repulsive or annoying, and did not hinder your experience of watching the film.
Verdict
On paper, this film could have been a great match for two very funny people to start together. However, Anger Management merely serves up a lukewarm dish of comedy that feels more like a forgotten SNL sketch stretched into a feature film.
It’s got its chuckles, sure, but it’s more of a film you have playing on a second monitor while working, than a memorable comedy film you actively watch. If you’re desperate for a mindless laugh, I laughed a few times and hey, it’s got Jack Nicholson, right? it might do the trick.
