Genre: Romance/Comedy
Director: Frank Coraci
Cast: Kate Beckinsale, David Hasselhoff, Adam Sandler and Christopher Walken
RunTime: 1 hr 50 mins
Released By: Columbia TriStar
Rating: PG

Opening Day: 3 August 2006

Synopsis:

An architect finds a universal remote that allows him to fast-forward and rewind to different parts of his life. Complications arise when the remote starts to overrule his choices.

Movie Review:

Click on the “Forward” button to escape your partner’s constant nagging over your unnecessary purchase of a handbag/home theatre system! OR

Click on the “Rewind” button to relive the happier times with your ex! OR

Click on the “Pause” button to give your demanding boss a kick on the a** and click on the “Resume” button and pretend nothing has ever happened!

Why hesitate? Go down to your nearest electronic store and grab this magical remote control now!

If the above sound ludicrous to you, then the setup for this Adam Sandler’s latest comedy flick might not be your cup of tea perhaps. Sandler plays Michael Newman, a busy architect (sounds a little liked you and I) with little time to spare for his lovely wife (oh my god! It’s Kate “gorgeous” Beckinsale) and his two kids. That is until he found a universal magical remote control in a Bathware store that could assist him in pacing and controlling his life.

Directed by Frank Coraci who brought us the amusing “Wedding Singers”, Coraci seems to be at ease here after his dismal Jackie Chan’s flop “Around the World In Eighty Days”. As always with any Hollywood comedies, fart jokes and jab at big boobs is a must. Not to mention the current trend, horny pets.

Adam Sandler has over the years become one of the funniest comedians in the industry. From “Waterboy” to “Anger Management” to “Punk Drunk Love”, Sandler has proven he has this enduring nice-guy personality which the audience loved. And his Happy Madison Production Company has been diligently churning out quirky, non-Sandler headed comedies. But Mr Sandler here has nothing new to offer except to plod safely along the usual path to comedy heaven and brings his role of Michael Newman to live.

Christopher Walken should be commended instead for playing the loopy weirdo (with a mad scientist’s hair piece included) who ‘sold’ Newman the magical remote. You can say Walken has the tendency to outshine his co-stars and he did that again in “Click”. ‘Knight Rider’ David Hasselhoff appears as Newman’s detesting boss. Well, Hasselhoff is still as campy ever with or without his shirt on. Is Sean Astin fast becoming a Happy Madison’s alumni? After appearing in “50 First Dates”, Astin is here as well.

Coming from the writers of “Bruce Almighty”, “Click” works fortunately due to the unrevealing trailer. You walk to the theatre expecting Adam Sandler’s character to possess this magical remote control and get himself into all sorts of amusing situations, however the script goes beyond the usual slapstick antics. Perhaps all of us here are leading a 'Michael Newman' lifestyle, searching for the usual material gains and ignoring the company and presence of our love ones. There are lessons to be learnt and tears to be shed during the last act which is fast reaching some overly dramatic tones.

Not to intrude any spoiler territory, “Click” is equipped with a typical Hollywood ending nevertheless a fun journey to venture on.

Movie Rating:

(Will audience “click” with “Click”? I’m sure it will. Easily one of the more enjoyable comedies this year!)

Review by Linus Tee