Product: Eight Crazy Nights [VHS] (2002)
Rating: 2.0
Bizarre and a bit crude
I'm usually a supporter of Adam Sandler comedies, even if a lot of them are the same. His films have innocent, escapist humor that just allows you to forget about your troubles and laugh at pratfalls. This time, Sandler dabbles in animation, and it unfortunately does not achieve the same effect as his live-action comedies.Sandler voices the three main characters in this cartoon: a grumpy criminal prankster named Davey, a tiny and kindhearted old man named Whitey, and Whitey's crazy wig-wearing sister Eleanor. Davey actually looks and sounds like Sandler himself, while the brother and sister duo have the most grating voices possible and wacky appearances. This could annoy you so much that you may want to turn the movie off...I almost did.The plot is unimportant because gross-out humor and mean-spirited jokes take precedent in this film, but I will explain it anyway. Davey goes around town terrorizing people until his crimes catch up with him: he knocks down huge Menorah and Santa ice sculptures. The town judge sentences him to be supervised by Whitey, who plans to get him involved in a youth basketball program to turn his life around. It turns out that a tragedy from Davey's past is what has caused his bitterness towards the holidays, and this topic is finally explored after much mayhem and many gags.It only has a few truly funny moments, and it is overwhelmed with product placement ad nauseum in a mall sequence. It kind of makes you wonder if all of those advertising fees were necessary to get this film produced in the first place. It's artistic and comic merit alone are simply not enough. This movie is pretty pointless and misdirected towards a younger audience. Parents be warned: the movie earns every ounce of the PG-13 rating. It has naughty language, innuendo, and plenty of humor centering around excrement.The Sandler purist may love this film and see it for the sometimes strange and sickening comedy it is. For me, it was just not as funny as I expected. The reason that I didn't give it one star is because I liked the cameos from Sandler staples Rob Schneider, Jon Lovitz and Kevin Nealon, AND because of the hilarious new version of "The Hanukkah Song" featured in the end credits. In conclusion, this animated feature is hit-or-miss, depending on your taste. Just don't expect comic genius.