CLICK
A film review by Steve Rhodes

Copyright 2006 Steve Rhodes



RATING (0 TO ****): **



CLICK, a movie with an endlessly cute concept, is a theatrical dud, thanks
to yet another sleepwalking performance by comedic megastar Adam Sandler.
Although he can on rare occasions be good, as he is in SPANGLISH, generally
he is either lifeless, as he is in CLICK and 50 FIRST DATES, or annoying, as
he is in THE WEDDING SINGER and THE WATERBOY. Why this nearly talentless
actor has such popularity continues to amaze me.



Two parts comedy and one part message movie, CLICK is a blend of BACK TO THE
FUTURE with A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Sandler plays Michael Newman, a workaholic
architect who is too often AWOL when it comes to his own family. He's more
interested in wooing clients than in paying attention to his two sweet kids
and to his beautiful wife (Kate Beckinsale).



Getting what appears at first to be his salvation starts with a trip to Bed,
Bath & Beyond. In the "Way Beyond" section, he meets a Doc Brown-type of
character played by Christopher Walken. As a gadget section clerk named
Morty, Walken underplays an underwritten role, which does keep him from ever
upstaging the film's star. This means, however, that one actor who could
have provided some much needed sparks never does any more than smolder.



Writers Steve Koren and Mark O'Keefe do come up with some nice material,
which they sandwich between the story's many duds. The movie's premise is
that Morty gives Michael a "really" universal remote. It can control
everything in his life. Wife bitching? Zip past it. Dog barking? Mute
him. Boss irritating you? Hit pause and then fart right in his face, many
times. See what I mean about a promising premise that has its moments but
is too often wasted?



With a single casting change, having Jim Carrey replace Sandler, the movie
could have worked. Still, the gooey last act, with Michael learning that
skipping past life's unpleasant moments means he missed the good parts too,
would need a rewrite no matter who played the lead.



CLICK runs 1:37. It is rated PG-13 for "language, crude and sex-related
humor, and some drug references" and would be acceptable for kids around 11
and up.



My son Jeffrey, age 17, said that, although he liked it, he was disappointed
by it. Expecting it to be a comedy, he didn't like the last act. Overall,
he gave it ***. His girlfriend Yasmin, age 16, gave it *** 1/2, saying that
she thought it was hilarious and had good morals.



The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, June 23, 2006. In
the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Century
theaters and the Camera Cinemas.



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