A Wonderful Comedy with a Message for All of Us!

Rating: 8/10 (15 July 2006)

After reading all the comments and seeing many of the great critics blow off this movie, I was a bit skeptical. I decided it looked like a fun movie and went to go see it. I am glad that I did!
Adam Sandler plays Michael Newman who is a workaholic and finds out what dangers lie ahead for those who spend more time with their work than their family. This movie projects both comedy and a message that hits home for an over-worked generation of people.
The movie opens with Michael Newman wishing he had more time to spend with his family, but has a manipulative boss (played by David Hasselhoff) who makes Michael decide between him and his family. Michael, thinking that providing for his family is what is most important always seems to go with his work over spending time with his family.
Meanwhile, the boy next door is always bragging about all the nice things his family has and all the wonderful things his parents buy him. Hearing this and knowing that he wants to do the same for his family makes Michael all the more determined to provide for his family.
One day, needled by his kids that the family next door has a universal remote that controls the TV, Stereo, VCR, DVD, etc. (and Michael being tired of always picking up the wrong remote to do what he wants) decides to treat himself and go out looking for a universal remote control. He then meets a mysterious man named Morty (played by Christopher Walken) who gives him a brand new, not-yet-on-the-market, universal remote that will control everything.
When he gets home he later discovers that this is more than just a remote control for things around the house. It it is a remote control for his entire life. What starts out as fun soon turns into a nightmare for poor Michael and in it is a lesson to be learned for all of us. The remote control takes over Michael's life and what happens next is both funny and sad at the same time.
I highly recommend everyone take a workaholic friend or significant other to see this movie. There is a lot of humor and a great message for every one of us in it!