Summary
The 2002 Adam Sandler moviePunch-Drunk Loveis now streaming on Hulu. AlthoughSandler is known nowadays for starring in both comedies and dramas, back during the start of his acting career he was widely known as a comedian fromSaturday Night Liveand a comedic actor who starred inHappy Gilmore,Billy Madison, andThe Waterboy.Sandler’s role as Happy Gilmore is so iconicthat a modern-day sequel is currently in development.
Even though there is plenty of anticipation forHappy Gilmore2, Sandler proved he is much more than a funny-man with thecritically acclaimed 2019 thrillerUncut Gems. While many mistookSandler’s role as the conniving degenerate con man Howard Ratner inUncut Gemsas his first big dramatic role, he actually had already starred in several dramas before that, including a Noah Baumbach Netflix movie that also starred Dustin Hoffman and Ben Stiller. His first dramatic role, however, was in Paul Thomas Anderson’sPunch-Drunk Love.
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Punch-Drunk Lovewas Sandler’s first notable pivot from starring in goofy comedy movies to more serious and dramatic roles.Punch-Drunk Lovestill has comedic elements for sure but nothing in the vein of Sandler’s previous comedies and SNL career, which are much more intentional and simplified forms of comedy.Punch-Drunk Lovefinds Sandler portraying a down-on-his-luck, frustrated guy named Barry Egan. The film is way more conceptual than Sandler’s other works of the time.
Punch-Drunk Lovewas directed byPaul Thomas Anderson, who many consider to be one of the greatest working directorsand arguably one of the best of all time. His other works include very prestigious films such asThere Will Be Blood,Phantom Thread, andThe Master. Anderson has also made a fair share of intellectually based comedies and satires such asInherent Vicewith Joaquin Phoenix,Boogie Nightswith Mark Wahlberg, andPunch-Drunk Lovewith Sandler.
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Uncut Gemsis widely regarded as Sandler’s best dramatic role. Other Sandler-led dramas like it may have never happened if he hadn’t pivoted toPunch-Drunk Loveso early on in his career. It’s funny to think that Sandler can star in such awful movies asJack and Jilland also deliver powerful and convincing performances in films likeUncut GemsandHustle. He could have been more of a one-trick pony with his comedy movies, which has brought him massive success, but PTA’sPunch-Drunk Lovegave him the opportunity to really shine in a quieter, more earnest dramatic role.
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Punch-Drunk Love
Cast
Punch-Drunk Love is a 2002 rom-com starring Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Sandler stars as Barry Egan, the only boy in a group of eight siblings who his sisters always pick on. Despite being successful in life, Barry is lonely and decides to call a phone-sex hotline. But that makes things complicated with his sister’s friend Lena who he thinks has a crush on him.
