Directed by: Frank Coraci
Written by: Steve Koren & Mark O’Keefe
Starring: Adam Sandler, Kate Beckinsale, Christopher Walken, Henry Winkler, David Hasselhoff
Rating: [3/5]
At its most overwhelming points, life can appear to be out of our control. Things just happen and we try to survive day by day. Click answers the question of what can occur if we magically had the opportunity to take complete control. A wonderful prospect, but one that comes with its share of drawbacks. Utilizing its interesting idea, this film creates a comedy with just enough laughs but allows its overall message to take over.
Always putting work over family, Michael Newman (Adam Sandler) wishes he could control time, which he then gets the opportunity to do when shopping for a universal remote. With the remote he receives he can manipulate his reality the same way anyone could with a DVD, which allows him to skip over things he does not care for.
Simply put, Click feels like many Adam Sandler comedy flicks in which the jokes never reach a high bar, but the overall theme and messaging of this feature brings plenty of heart. The start of this movie shows a man unable to find the proper balance of his work and home life. His family wants to spend time with him but he cannot do that while also meeting the demands of his terrible boss. Receiving this remote becomes the ultimate gift for managing his time but also having some fun with the manipulation. In usual Sandler style, he utilizes the remote to slow down time so he can watch a female jogger move in slow motion. All of the gaffes with the remote work fine, but then things begin to change when the device learns from him and begins to shift events in the way it believes its wielder would like. In these moments is where the quality of this film begins to rise.
Fast-forwarding moments with an already absentee father into someone literally on auto-pilot begins the learning process for Michael as he begins to realize the importance of family. Sure, it’s yet another story of a father trying to make up for all the time he spent away from home working, but the utilization of the device serves as an effective mechanism for this type of story. It serves as a valuable lesson, not only just in prioritizing family, but also the importance of living in the moment instead of always looking to what the future will provide. Personally, I’m someone who always thinks of the future like when I retire and I can do whatever I want for the rest of my life. However, the future belongs to the version of ourselves who makes it there. Cherishing the present should be of utmost importance because these moments will pass and never come back again. This layer adds another level of lesson-learning all within a story, which surrounds its ideas with some subpar jokes.
While Adam Sandler-led films may occasionally get a few chuckles out of me, the emotional resonance of Click left me at a point of tears. As the moments continually fast-forward and Michael misses out on such key moments in life, it truly leaves an impact on him because the lesson learned hits like a ton of bricks. A particular moment towards the end adequately puts everything together and it truly made me tear up from the sadness of the moment. Incredible props to the film, because it feels earned within the story and the thematic throughline it achieves to create.
In terms of acting, Sandler gives the typical Sandman performance he employs in his comedies but it was nice to see other actors have some fun in their roles. Christopher Walken portrays the man presenting the remote to Michael and serves as the guide for this entire experience. Other fun additions include David Hasselhoff, Henry Winkler, Sean Astin, Jonah Hill, and several others. They each bring something distinct to the story except for poor Kate Beckinsdale. A strong actor who does not receive the roles that would give her the opportunity to flourish, and she just portrays “the wife” in this story, unfortunately.
Most Adam Sandler films contain a level of laziness in their overall execution, but the messaging running through Click shows the heart at the center of this movie. It will serve as a decent source of laughs but as the film heads towards its third act, it effectively puts together everything it wants to convey. A fun and emotional time, which may hit you differently if you’re a parent.
Films with Josh 