Watching Click, the new Adam Sandler comedy, I found myself wanting the very remote control Sandler possesses in the film so I could fast forward the movie and get the hell out of the theater.

Click is the typical Sandler film, with the obligatory fart and sex jokes which were funny in Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore but are starting to wear thin as Sandler tries to reach a new generation. At least with those films, you knew what you were getting into as the jokes ran consistent and Sandler didn’t try and stretch himself into something he isn’t. But in Click, Sandler tries to channel It’s a Wonderful Life and Scrooged and ends up turning what would have been a decent Sandler pic into a sappy mess.

The plot has been done before. Sandler plays an architect who is a slave to his job and to his boss (David Hasselhoff). He has two adorable kids and a hot wife (Kate Beckinsale) who he ignores. His life lacks control, as metaphorically demonstrated when he can’t decide which of the five remote controls on the coffee table turn on the t.v. He heads to Bed, Bath and Beyond and meets up with Morty (Christopher Walken), who gives him a universal remote that not only works his t.v., but lets him pause, rewind and fast forward his life.

Comedic hijinks ensue, as Sandler fast forwards through arguments and sex with his wife, the dog barking and even travels back to his conception, one of the movies brighter spots. The remote begins to take over his life, as he begins fast forwarding everything in hopes to get a promotion at work and to make more time for the wife and kids.

It is here were the movie, and sadly, Sandler, fall apart.

He zooms to the year 2023 to find himself divorced, alienated from his kids, 300 pounds overweight, battling brain cancer and, wait, he also has a heart attack. Director Frank Coraci (The Wedding Singer, Sandler’s best) and writers Steve Koran and Mark O’ Keefe try desperately to give this movie a heart, but even having Sandler break down on screen when he rewinds to say good-bye to the father he was to busy pay attention to cannot save this turkey, it just adds to the pain of watching it.

The shining light in the film is Walken, who appears throughout the film to guide Sandler and give him advice on his remote control usage. The rest of the cast, including Sean Astin, Henry Winkler and Julie Kavner are wasted. Beckinsale (finally doing something that does not involve vampires and werewolves) is completely wasted as she has little to do in the film except run around in skimpy clothing and nag at Sandler.

Sandler is no stranger to dramatic roles as he has experienced both success (Punch Drunk Love) and failure (Spanglish) in his previous attempts. In Click, he tries to mix the two and the result is an unbearable film that doesn’t do its star justice.

– Ben Plassard