I love this movie so much

So much average

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

While I personally cannot say in good faith that this is Paul Thomas Anderson's best film, it is the one that made me feel the most. I feel like this is a very personal film in an emotional way that PTA's other films like Boogie Nights and The Master can not compare to. It is the story of Barry Eagan, a lonely, awkward, and troubled man who meets the woman of his dreams. While nothing strictly impossible happens in the film, it does present itself as a kind of fantasy. Many unexplained (if not unexplainable) things occur in the film that may throw casual viewers off. The music is sweeping, and the dialogue feels grand. Barry is played by Adam Sandler, who gives one of the best performances of his career. He plays a sort of inverse of his usual Happy Madison charicatures. Barry is awkward, very strange, and has anger management problems. However, here I felt extreme pity for Sandler's character. I understand the feeling of being an outcast, and when Barry says sometimes he "cries for no reason" and begins crying right then, I found myself tearing up. I understand why someone might not react this way to this scene; they may even feel inclined to laugh. Punch-Drunk Love is the kind of movie you either get or you don't. I think I did.

(Flash Review)This is an unusual and uneven romantic tale about an unstable protagonist (Sandler) who lives a somber and solitary life until a woman enters the scene. For some unknown reason the female love interest is attracted to him and attempts to pierce his awkward outer shell while semi-surreal and dangerous incidents occur all around him, which also appears to increase her interest in him. The random incidents are interesting yet are difficult to fully tie back to the story or perhaps they are there to create a peculiar atmosphere. The other story lines are Sandler finds a sweepstakes loophole with a specific brand of pudding and after he buys an egregious amount of pudding packages, he tries to claim the prize immediately as well as him avoiding getting blackmailed a separate awkward incident. Will he be able to conquer his emotional baggage and his peculiar situations and open up for romance? Complimenting a quirky soundtrack, there was a running symbolic theme of telephones that is open to interpretation. It was an interesting and well- produced film with clunky pacing and perhaps a bit too vague for most people; great cinematography.

Barry Egan has seven overbearing sisters, one of whom is trying to set him up with her friend Lena; he isn't so keen. He doesn't realise but he has already met. After a family party, where we see Barry has serious anger issues, he calls a sex-line. He doesn't want phone sex; just somebody to talk to but after giving personal details the woman calls back asking for money. When he refuses she gets nasty. He has his credit card cancels and then her threats start to escalate. While this is going on he meets Lena again and they start to get closer; so much so that he joins her when she goes to Hawaii.Anybody expecting a traditional rom-com may be a little disappointed but those wanting something a little different should really enjoy this. Adam Sandler does a really good job as Barry; an unlikely romantic lead given the character's various personal problem, most notably his explosive temper. There is also something a little surreal about the character as he buys large quantities of pudding because he realises that the air-miles offered on the packs are worth far more than the puddings. Emily Watson does a solid job as Lena, it isn't hard to see why Barry fell for her. Mary Lynn Rajskub impresses as Barry's sister, and Lena's friend, Elizabeth; I was surprised she wasn't further up the cast list as she probably had the third largest part. There may not be obvious gags or witty one-liners but I still found this very funny in places. There is some material that might bother some people; notably a rather violent scene where Barry confronts his tormentors; this is fairly sudden but there is no dwelling on any injuries caused. Overall I'd certainly recommend this; I enjoyed it more than expected.

This film should serve as proof that PTA not only knows how to tell a small story but also knows how to write for specific people, creating characters that they were destined to play. Their lives had led to the moment in which they will be in a PTA film, in this particular case it was Adam Sandler. What a performance! Seriously. Many of those who have analyzed this film have stated that he's essentially taken the man- child he's typecast himself into and brought it into the real world. The world that has consequences and brings profound loneliness. Recommended to those who enjoy Sandler but want to see more range and also to anyone looking for a super weird rom-com.