For more movie summaries, see Kam's Kapsules.
 THOSE MEL BROOKS FILMS ARE FUNNY AND MAY EVEN BE THERAPEUTIC: Charlie Fineman (Adam Sandler, left) gets dragged to a Mel Brooks filmathon by his dental school buddy Alan Johnson (Don Cheadle) in an attempt to snap Charlie out of his depression caused by the loss of his wife in the 9/11 attack. |
There are many people who say they're not ready to watch a movie whose theme involves the events of 9/11. As a result, they've missed out on several excellent cinematic tributes, including World Trade Center, Flight 93, and Saint of 9/11.
If you're one of those who is hesitant, then you probably want to pass on Reign over Me. It's the first fictional feature film to revolve around the event, though it does so in an oblique fashion. Depressing in tone, this bittersweet film focuses on the toll the tragedy has taken on Charlie Fineman (Adam Sandler), a dentist whose wife and three daughters were passengers on one of the planes commandeered by hijackers that fateful day.
After the formerly gregarious Charlie's life was ripped apart, he became paranoid, emotionally fragile, and unable to function. The picture's point of departure is 2006, where we find the grieving widower unemployed, in denial, and avoiding anyone who might remind him of his loss, including his wife's parents, Jonathan (Robert Klein) and Ginger (Melinda Dillon).
Disheveled and unshaven, he squanders his days aimlessly zigzagging around Manhattan on a motorized scooter, mumbling to himself in an introspective haze. Evenings, he retreats to his darkened apartment to listen to obscure rock tunes on vinyl records while playing Shadows of the Colossus, a video game whose object is to slay an army of evil giants in order to bring a dead girl back to life.
Everything changes for Charlie after a chance encounter with Alan Johnson (Don Cheadle) who had been his roommate during dental school. The two haven't seen each other in ages and Alan is shocked to find Charlie in such a pathetic state.
Despite the fact that Alan is currently dealing with his own midlife crisis which has left him unable to communicate with his wife (Jada Pinkett Smith), Alan takes a personal interest in his friend's well-being.
Ignoring his spouse, daughters, and dental practice, Dr. Johnson takes Charlie on late-night jaunts ranging from a gig as a drummer in a heavy metal rock band to a Mel Brooks movie marathon in Greenwich Village.
Alan exhibits extraordinary patience with Charles, implying that he deserves special permission to behave foolishly because he lost his family on 9/11. Alan learns the hard way that enabling Charlie allows his spoiled and self-destructive behavior to degenerate into the trashing of Alan's office and pointing a pistol at the police.
Eventually, Charlie is forced to see a shrink (Liv Tyler), who diagnoses him to be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. But is it a sufficiently severe case to warrant commitment to an institution, or will guided help from loved ones do the trick? Fortunately, Judge Raines (Donald Sutherland), exhibiting all the wisdom of Solomon, is on the bench to decide.
Reign over Me strives to be appreciated as a character driven meditation on the psyche of America in the aftermath of the terror attacks, but instead relies on the staples of Adam Sandler's formulaic comedy, and therefore cannot be considered of any more substance or consequence than The Waterboy, Happy Gilmore, or even Billy Madison.
Sandler exploits 9/11 to free his character to vent politically incorrect bile in the direction of Latinos, gays, and any other easy targets unfortunate enough to cross his path.
A mean spirited, frivolous, dull, pretentious indulgence in bigotry and sophomoric behavior in the name of Al-Qaeda.
Fair (1 star). Rated R for profanity, sexuality, and homophobic slurs. Running time: 124 minutes. Studio: Sony Pictures.
For more movie summaries, see Kam's Kapsules.