Feature
Review | 8 Crazy Nights
Written by: Brian
Orndorf
Davey Stone (voiced by Adam Sandler) is a 33 year-old bully. Ever
since losing his parents 20 years ago, Davey has been a source of
constant frustration for the town of Dukesberry, ruining the holidays,
and just being an all around unlikable fellow. Eventually Davey is
arrested and sentenced to referee a youth basketball league, and
it’s there that he meets the town pushover, a 70-year old man named
Whitey Duvall (Sandler). Davey isn’t in the right frame of mind to
enjoy the town’s Hanukkah and Christmas celebration, but Whitey’s
love for the citizens of Dukesberry, along with his ability to make
Davey confront his past, could lead to Davey finally breaking free of
his depression, and opening his heart to enjoy the holidays.
I’ve always tried to support Adam Sander, mostly because I really
am fond of his films. But my love for the comedian has always stopped
at his recording career, which has filled the shelves with many CDs of
unfunny comedy skits, and even worse songs (both of which inspired
this film). On the screen, Sandler generates somewhat composed,
detailed insanity, whereas on tape, his id just runs wild, to an
obnoxious extreme. The animated “8 Crazy Nights” brings that
laugh-free work to the theaters, in what is easily Sandler’s worst
film. While it’s great to finally see a Hanukkah film be made, as
that holiday just isn’t covered enough by Hollywood, did it have to
be this overflowing cornucopia of gross-out situations and perilously
offensive gags? Sadly, none of the warm, sometimes corrosive charm
Sandler brings to his live-action offerings is present here.
What we do have to contend with are defecating deer, some
jock-strap consumption, port-a-potty tipping, belching and other
assorted bodily functions, three-breasted women, and, incredibly
enough, seizure jokes. I seemed to have lost the memo that details a
comedy clearance on that deadly serious affliction. This is the class
of material that makes up Sandler’s records (and, admittedly,
occasionally his movies), and it should’ve stayed there.
“8 Crazy Nights” also plays like a watered down version of the
“South Park” movie. Also built around a series of lewd,
Broadway-style musical numbers, “Nights” doesn’t quite have the
level of writing “South Park” had, nor the R-rating or satiric aim
to fully explore the depths of obscenity. While it may not be entirely
funny, “8 Crazy Nights” is, at the very least, bright and
colorful, with the songs adding energy to its dilapidated engine.
They’re not hilarious songs, but they keep the focus off the labored
story, and that’s all right with me.
Adam Sandler can be easily forgiven for this miscarriage, if only
on the strength of his career-bending work in the recent
“Punch-Drunk Love.” Here’s to hoping we never have to spend a 9th
crazy night with Whitey, Davey, and the whole crappy gang.
Grade: 4 out of 10
COMMENTS
Date/Time of Posting: Dec 03 2002 / 06:17:02
IP Address: 66.204.14.7
name = Rasafa
comments = it sucked
Date/Time of Posting: Dec 04 2002 / 16:40:29
IP Address: 68.39.4.146
name = Keith Thoma
Email = kthoma22@hotmail.com
comments = Dude come on it was a pretty funny movie stop acting like
such a prick you critics suck
Date/Time of Posting: Dec 06 2002 / 20:55:18
IP Address: 24.184.26.146
name = Anonymous
Email = pikachu78952@worldnet.att.net
comments = The movie was so funny. I loved it so much. The songs were
so good. Adam Sandler always makes me laugh. What do you think the
lesson of the movie was? Think for a moment. Whitey was the funniest.
Elenore was a silly bald woman. Davey was bad but Whitey changed
Davey's life. But watch the movie and find out!
Date/Time of Posting: Dec 07 2002 / 05:38:39
IP Address: 208.183.225.3
name = billybob
comments = it sucked real bad
Date/Time of Posting: Dec 11 2002 / 08:49:14
IP Address: 68.49.169.20
name = tengis
Email = tengiso@yahoo.com
comments = so stooped movie
Date/Time of Posting: Dec 11 2002 / 18:03:32
IP Address: 24.217.33.88
userid = modamag
name = joym@paradowski.com
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