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Punch-Drunk Love
Punch-Drunk Love Image
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Metascore
78 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 37 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.2 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 157 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Adam Sandler, Emily Watson
  • Summary: Paul Thomas Anderson's fourth film features Sandler as a lonely man with serious emotional issues. As he concocts a scheme involving frequent flier miles and copious amounts of pudding, he finds himself both falling prey to a phone-sex scam and falling in love with his sister's colleague.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 37
  3. Negative: 2 out of 37
  1. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Steven Rea
    100
    With its feverish, percussive soundtrack and bravura cinematography, is like a bolt from the blue, chock-full of unexpected delight.
  2. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: J. Hoberman
    50
    As elegantly crafted as it often is, Anderson's movie is essentially a one-trick pony that, hampered by an undeveloped script, ultimately pulls up lame.
  3. Charlotte Observer
    Reviewed by: Lawrence Toppman
    38
    Punch-Drunk Love buries a terrific performance by Adam Sandler under a heap of faux cleverness, meaningless symbolism and irritating mannerisms.

See all 37 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 58 out of 104
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 104
  3. Negative: 41 out of 104
  1. DrewD.
    10
    It is really a testament to the sadness of America that half of them cannot appreciate a film like this. Most of them just think it is dumb--they say it is "disjointed" or that the leads have "no chemistry". This is what doing nothing but watching TV and standard Hollywood films does to your brain: you can't understand real human relationships (which are not "explainable" and are in fact "random", at least for most of us), you can't empathize with those who clearly have some sort of disorder, and can't figure out the unity of an actually pretty straightforward film, by artistic cinematic standards. Then, perhaps even worse, there are a group who recognize that they can't understand the film, but are too proud to admit it and accuse the film of being "pretentious" and full of "fake symbolism". I am not surprised though, that those who were expecting a standard Adam Sandler film, where you are supposed to laugh at someone who is different, didn't like this film, where you are supposed to feel for someone who is different. A shame.… Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes
  2. JacintaG.
    4
    I'm all for slow, quirky films- but this was a complete bore. It's a crap movie. There was a peep or brilliance shining through at some point, but was squashed flat by the non-existent a plot. Don't waste your money.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. PhilF.
    1
    This movie was terrible. I've heard nothing but good reviews for it over the last 5 years; i watched it today, and was in great disappointment. Sandlers acting wasn't half bad, but it was really hard to tell with all of the asstastic diologue and crappy acting. gave it a 1 because i felt better after not having to watch it anymore.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 104 User Reviews

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