Adam Sandler does a IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE/MR. DESTINY with a bit of warmth and good ‘ole Sandlerisque humour. Directed by Happy Madison camper Frank Coraci (Waterboy & The Wedding Singer) and scripted by the same team behind BRUCE ALMIGHTY, it’s another go by Sandler to court the adult demographics, and could fare well with the crowd that embraced 50 FIRST DATES and SPANGLISH.

Michael Newman (Adam Sandler) is your typical workaholic father rewarded with two cutesy kids and a hottie wife (Kate Beckinsale), but with very little time on his hands for any of them. His sly and demanding boss (David Hassellhoff) keeps flooding him with work while dangling the I-will-make-thee-partner carrot. Work pressure, junk food, multitudes of remotes (none of which he can control) and the neighbour’s annoying kid have made life hell for our relatively soft-spoken architect. A dog that vigorously humps a stuffed duck doesn’t help matters either.

On a particularly beat-up night, Newman ends up with a unique universal remote control courtesy of a wacky inventor Morty (Christopher Walken), and gradually learns that he can control his universe by fast forwarding, pausing or entirely skipping through chapters of his life. Of course as with all good things concerned, there is a downside to the boon, which our protagonist learns in heart-breaking ways.

Film suffers on account of a weak climax and poor disclosure of a character’s actual role. In a need to keep the flick family-friendly, it compromises on a ending that would’ve ideally suited the dark build-up.

Sandler displays great maturity in the latter portions, and the make-up effects are excellently rendered to highlight the aging process. He also indulges in his juvenile schtick like toilet humour, screaming his lungs out etc. Kate Beckinsale, in a change from UNDERWORLD and black leather, has little to offer except look gorgeous (and by Jove, she does!). David Hassellhoff, looks great, and essays his part without much fuss (and provides some great laughs at his own expense). Happy Madison regular Rob Schneider, provides signature cameo as an Arabian royalty - Prince Habeebo. Henry Winkler as the elderly Newman is a treat to watch, and Christopher Walken is simply irresistible as the crazy inventor Morty.

Overall, it’s a totally enjoyable movie that will make for a great holiday viewing.

MPAA RATING: PG-13
RUNTIME: 98 mins.
CAST: Adam Sandler, Kate Beckinsale, Christopher Walken
DIRECTOR: Frank Coraci