Not exactly what you're expecting, but does it work?

Rating: 6/10 (23 June 2006)

If you want to enjoy this movie then you must first willingly undergo a major suspension of disbelief.
"Why, because of the supernatural aspects of Sandler's ability to control his life like it was a DVD or TiVo?"
No, because it's completely unbelievable that any man would want to fast forward through massaging Kate Beckinsale or having "marital relations" with her. Movie or not. I made this comment as we were filing out of the theater, and Mr. Shade acted like it was a plausible idea, replying, "Well, maybe if you had to do it over 100 times."
Balderdash. IT'S KATE BECKINSALE! I'm willing to step up to the plate and test this theory (with Stephanie's permission, of course). We'll call it the "Kate Beckinsale Massage Challenge." After massage #101 I'll let you know if Sandler's desire to fast forward through it is anywhere near believable. I'm willing to do this for all you readers out there. All for the sake of improved believability in our movies. Drop me a line, Kate. This is all in the name of science; I promise.
"That's great, Johnny. You'll never hear from her, delusional boy, so how about the movie?"
Oh, right, the movie. Thanks for reminding me. I guess I should point out that I'm an Adam Sandler fan. A fan who has learned to forgive him for Little Nicky and a fan who thinks Punch-Drunk Love is mystifyingly overrated, but a fan nonetheless. That being said, I enjoyed the movie. I was entertained. Is it great? No. Is it in the upper echelon of his work? Nope. Could Kate Beckinsale just stand there motionless on screen for 90 minutes and send me home with a smile on my face? Oh yeah.
There are moments when the crudeness is overdone (seriously, how many times can you show a dog humping a stuffed animal before you realize it stopped being funny about 40 minutes ago?) and apparently I'm one of the few people left in the world who doesn't think little kids cussing is adorable (yeah, I'm sure you'd giggle if it were YOUR child dropping "s" bombs), but the film still managed to coerce a good number of out-loud laughs from me.
I'm not gonna sit here and wax poetic about what I would do if I came across a remote that could control my life. That'd be a waste of my time and yours. However, I found it interesting to watch Sandler as he made his decisions in regard to this little technical wonder. I especially liked the menu and its special features - including a commentary track with James Earl Jones. Funny stuff.
Sandler movies, by their very nature, are quite easy to review. Do you hate the guy? Then skip it. If you love the majority of his work then you'll have a good time. However, I feel it's my duty to warn you that Click is a little different than what you might expect.
In an effort to show it ain't just a one-trick pony (and probably to appeal to a broader audience), Click takes a strange dramatic turn about 2/3rds of the way through, and it stays pretty serious for a good 20 minutes or so. Fan base be warned. The teenagers in the crowd started to get restless as they were obviously desperate for Sandler to hurry up and say something like, "Gippity bop simmidy doo."
References to It's a Wonderful Life are accurate, though I feel it taps more into A Christmas Carol complete with Christopher Walken as the Ghost of Really Bad Hairdos. Some of the dramatic aspects are handled well, albeit with little originality, but things got a little too solemn for my taste, especially since I was in the mood for something purely comedic. Much like the majority of people who give speeches at wedding receptions, it tries just a little too hard to wrestle out the tears. Sandler's attempt at crying is particularly unconvincing.
I'm sure there's a section of you who will ignore the predictability of it all and appreciate the fact that Sandler is trying to show a little maturity these days, and that's fine. I'm just pointing out that the transition in tone is awkward, and the drama overstays its welcome. Take some lessons from Liar Liar on how to add dramatic elements and life-changing revelations while remaining consistently funny.
The bottom line, America, is Click will have quite the mixed reaction, even among Sandler's staunchest fanboys. Can you handle the dramatic shift? Will you buy into it? Can you tolerate the sometimes juvenile and sophomoric humor on display? I've equipped you with the necessary knowledge; it's now up to you to make your choice.
Oh, and did I mention that Kate Beckinsale isn't too harsh on the eyes? Can't remember if I did or not so I wanted to make sure I pointed that out.
THE GIST
If you can't stand Adam Sandler then I have no idea why you'd wonder if you should see Click or not. If you're a fan of the Sand Man then chances are you'll be entertained, but reactions to the dramatic tone shift will be very mixed. Don't expect Billy Madison or Happy Gilmore.