Punch-Drunk Love

Name: Punch-Drunk Love
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: October 11, 2002
Duration: 95 min
Rating: 78
Cast: Adam Sandler, Emily Watson

2002

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 296 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 296 Ratings

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Punch Drunk Love

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: October 11, 2002 | R

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.

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 95 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Desson Thomson

Through this miasma of pain and suffering, love may not flicker more strongly than a dim lamp. But it's the only beacon to consider. Can Barry find his? Thanks to Anderson's assured picture, a symphony of cinematic textures, that disarmingly simple question becomes incredibly compelling. Read full review

David Edelstein

I found it exquisite. In part I responded out of sheer amazement: I've never seen anything like the sequences in which Sandler, in his boxy, sea-blue suit, charges around his warehouse to the rhythm of Brion's harsh drums. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

It's a small victory, but Punch-Drunk Love knows how to reap epic delight from the most precious of details. Read full review

Peter Rainer

A startling achievement, but its lack of psychological dimension prevents it from making much human contact with us. It ends where it begins: in a state of shock. Read full review

John Powers

The movie winds up being his sunniest, for Anderson takes care to keep their love sweet, daffy and punch-drunk. This is a film in which that modern obsession, frequent-flier mileage, becomes proof of fidelity, and true intimacy is portrayed by a man telling his lover, "I'm sorry I beat up the bathroom." Read full review

James Berardinelli

Quirky and stylish, but not in a manner that comes across as overly artsy or pretentious. Read full review

Lou Lumenick

Essentially a weird series of nonsequiturs. I'd rather be watching a sequel to the much-maligned "Little Nicky" -- a Sandler film that was at least trying to do something interesting -- than this failed experiment in fusing high and low culture. Read full review

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User Reviews

mooradj0

Sep 11, 2013

Whimsical, Nietzschean, Beautiful. Jon Brion's score is the perfect complement to this story of a man coming into his own. Paul Thomas Anderson has an eye for shots and cinema all his own. Loved it.

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

Habibiehakim

Aug 22, 2021

Finally one Sandler's movie that i can call "Masterpiece", Punch-Drunk Love is not only another level of a movie but it's another level performance from Sandler's too, added with Jon Brion incredible score and amazing cinematography, Punch-Drunk Love is simply Sandler's Masterpiece.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

cabrita

Sep 21, 2012

Another masterpiece from PTA makes Punch-Drunk Love one of the best romance movies ever made. Sandler is flawless as a lonely man struggling with anger and the pressure put on him by his sisters. This film is heartbreaking and often funny surprisingly sometimes at the same time. PaulAnother masterpiece from PTA makes Punch-Drunk Love one of the best romance movies ever made. Sandler is flawless as a lonely man struggling with anger and the pressure put on him by his sisters. This film is heartbreaking and often funny surprisingly sometimes at the same time. Paul Thomas Anderson and Christopher Nolan are the film artists of the 21`st century both uncompromising their visions to make only masterpieces.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

theunholymesiah

Sep 25, 2013

The first time I saw this movie I absolutely loved it. After seeing it a couple of times after the effect isn't as strong but I still love it. Any doubters on Adam Sandler and his acting ability haven't seen this film. This would have to be the best performance I've seen from him. Not muchThe first time I saw this movie I absolutely loved it. After seeing it a couple of times after the effect isn't as strong but I still love it. Any doubters on Adam Sandler and his acting ability haven't seen this film. This would have to be the best performance I've seen from him. Not much happens in the first half hour but after that it becomes so interesting. It's not always funny but there are some very funny bits. The romance between the two I loved so much, they get along so well and they're not the perfect specimens. This isn't Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence these are two average and kinda weird people. Paul Thomas Anderson has some really interesting cinematography and music. I can understand why people wouldn't find it that great or if they didn't get it at all but I really enjoyed it.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

GerardistheWay

Aug 17, 2016

The fourth film by Paul Thomas Anderson is easily my favorite rom-com, and the only one in the genre that I can honestly say I enjoyed. Adam Sandler, who has been spiraling downward further into a state of mediocrity, ought to take hints on writing and acting from this film, which is easilyThe fourth film by Paul Thomas Anderson is easily my favorite rom-com, and the only one in the genre that I can honestly say I enjoyed. Adam Sandler, who has been spiraling downward further into a state of mediocrity, ought to take hints on writing and acting from this film, which is easily one of his best.

The story follows Barry Egan, a lonely, emotionally unbalanced man who juggles selling toilet plungers with his accident-prone workers, putting up with his seven overbearing older sisters, and late-night phone sex. Yeah, that last one doesn't work out so well for him, as when the company (operated out of a Utah mattress store) attempts to extort him for more money they stalk his work phone and send thugs after him, from whom he runs on foot on a deserted street while they pursue in a pickup truck. All of this is coincidentally happening while he's trying to strike a connection with a co-worker of his sister's...Can't a guy get a break? Regardless, Barry navigates these difficulties to the best of his abilities with alternating calm, slightly worried submissiveness and outright brutal rage. The switch is pretty entertaining to watch.

Now upon viewing this film, all of the jokes might not be immediately evident, as they shouldn't; this isn't the kind of cheap, gag-reliant humor you find in most mainstream comedy films these days. The laughs have a tendency to sneak up on you--the jokes are more subtle and non-conventional (Anderson somehow finds a way to make a car crash and random abandonment of a harmonium close to the beginning of the film hilarious) in a way that not many people can appreciate anymore. This is intelligent humor, rather than the tired garbage populating Sandler's more recent attempts (looking at you, "The Do-Over").

As an added bonus, this film gives Sandler the opportunity to show off his true acting range, and rather than being the one-trick pony we're used to seeing him as he is at once darkly serious, inanely goofy, and instantly likable, and the ease with which Sandler goes from push-over to the one doing the shoving will make you need to do a double-take. The relatability of Barry is one of the most appealing things about his character; we've all had high and low points during romance, as well as loves so strong we thought we'd run follow that person to Hawaii if that's what it took (Oh, wait a second...). The supporting roles are played with brilliance and both support and complement the lead role, whether it be Philip Seymour Hoffman (a frequent Anderson collaborator until his untimely demise) as the mobster-esque owner of the Provo mattress store, Luis Guzman as Barry's dedicated second-in-command Lance, or Emily Watson as Lena, the object of Barry's affection who's given much more to do and say in this film than she was in "Equilibrium".

The time spent on character development is one of my favorite things about this movie; when we first meet Barry, he's a lonely workaholic who seems frightened and confused by the world outside the safety bubble of his garage workstation, so awkward with Lena in their first discussion that he can barely maintain eye contact with her. By the end of the film his confidence has markedly improved, and indeed he seems like a new man, displaying a skill with the discarded harmonium (which he decided to take) that he had previously kept hidden. So deeply has Lena affected him that he, slowly but surely, begins making major changes in his life: he acts on impulse rather than retreating to the safety of his office, stands up to his sister (at least one of them) and follows the former on a business trip using enormous quantities of frequent flier miles amassed from buying pudding (one of Anderson's signature side-plots to keep your interest when things seem to be getting slow).

The completely oddball nature of Barry and Lena's romance makes it noticeably different than the ones found in many rom-coms: it's fresher, more unique and original, and is a breath of fresh air into the genre. Paul Thomas Anderson has yet to make a bad movie, and in his collaboration with Adam Sandler he finds just the right mix of drama, humor, and sweetness that will soften the heart of even the coldest movie-goer. 9/10… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

inyourendo

Jul 14, 2012

Another excellent film from Paul-Thomas Anderson, i thought the chaos and awkwardness of the lead was developed excellently leaving me feeling his pain and anxiety. The chemistry between the two leads was good, however i didn't think the chances of Barry actually getting the girl wereAnother excellent film from Paul-Thomas Anderson, i thought the chaos and awkwardness of the lead was developed excellently leaving me feeling his pain and anxiety. The chemistry between the two leads was good, however i didn't think the chances of Barry actually getting the girl were realistic. Overall a great film.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

RyanG.

Apr 26, 2006

Worst Movie Adam Sandler Ever Made.

0 of 5 users found this helpful

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39	#39 Best Movie of 2002
19	#19 Most Discussed Movie of 2002
38	#38 Most Shared Movie of 2002