Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights
Directed by Sean Kearsley
Written by Alan Covert, Adam Sandler
Starring Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider
Release Date November 27th, 2002
Published November 25th, 2002
Just when Adam Sandler earns a modicum of respect with his sensational turn in Punch Drunk Love, he turns around and slaps the audience in the face with his trademark juvenile stupidity. It's like in High School when the popular jock would talk to the nerds until his friends came around. Then he would be mean and boorish again. (Not that I could relate to that story... stupid nerds.)
This time around, it's an animated Sandler voicing Davey Stone, the meanest guy in town. Stone has made it a habit to ruin Hanukkah and Christmas for everyone in town since his parents died when he was twelve. After Davey gets drunk and steals a snowmobile that he uses to destroy a Hanukkah/Christmas ice sculpture, Davey is hauled into court where he should be sent away for ten years.
Before he can be sentenced an old man named Whitey, also voiced by Sandler, volunteers to take Davey under his wing. Davey is sentenced to work with Whitey refereeing kids basketball games. At first, Davey doesn't change at all and is a complete jerk to Whitey and Whitey's sister Eleanore, also voiced by Sandler. Of course, in typical fashion, Whitey begins to wear Davey down and after a cute little song, they are friends until the script throws up one last roadblock to prolong the film until its forced happy ending. Along the way, we are treated to excrement, snot, and various other disgusting elements that Sandler has some juvenile affinity for.
I would be lying if I said that 8 Crazy Nights didn't have a couple of good laughs: something this scatological can't help but hit the target once in a while. But the laughs are rare and not nearly sufficient to make 8 Crazy Nights worth seeing.
Memo to Adam Sandler: Punch Drunk Love showed honest potential, as does your teaming with Jack Nicholson in the forthcoming Anger Management. There is no need for this kind of stupidity. 8 Crazy Nights is likely to make more money on its opening weekend than Punch Drunk Lovewill make during its entire run, but remember, quality work is its own reward.
