‘Anger Management’ lacks strong laughs

Oprah. Dr.Phil. Montel Williams. Sally Jessie Raphael. Four precise examples of Peter Segal’s concept behind his new film, “Anger Management.” In a world where there is a treatment for every imaginable climate, Segal flawlessly directs this movie in a comedic twist that shows that even a seemingly normal person can use a little therapy.

Enter Buddy Rydell, an anger management counselor played by Jack Nicholson, whose sole purpose during the film is to cure his co-star’s anger problem. Adam Sandler is Dave Buznik, your everyday man who has the normal stresses of work, relationships and life in general. Or so it seems.

With a little lighthearted poking at the post Sept. 11 scare that had everyone looking at their neighbors twice, Buznik’s descent into chaos begins. After a traumatic flight, which involved hitting a stewardess and being shocked with a laser gun, he is ordered into anger management classes. These classes involve some very unorthodox methods of curing Buznik. Perhaps the most bizarre is Rydell himself, who seems to thrive on driving his patient to the brink of a true rage explosion. Declaring songs by the Carpenters as “songs of rage,” Rydell invades Buznik’s home and turns it upside down.

Not only does Rydell have his patient sitting on a jammed highway singing, “I Feel Pretty” from “West Side Story” and picking up transvestites, it also appears he is intent on taking his girlfriend, Linda, played by Marisa Tomei.

However, Buznik soon learns he is not alone in his dilemma. Along the way he meets some very famous celebrities who are notorious for their outburst of anger. He even gets a helping hand from former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Introducing terminology such as TAS : Toxic Anger Syndrome and warning, “Beware the fury of the patient man,” Rydell carefully picks apart Buznik’s life until you are no longer certain if he really does have an anger problem or if he is in desperate need of a vacation.

In general, the film lacks the strong comedic moments expected from Sandler and Nicholson and seems rather dull in comparison to some of their earlier films. The pranks are foreseeable and the gags predictable. But the strength of the movie lies in its ability to make us laugh at ourselves and at society’s own insecurities and weaknesses. The teaming of these two actors is worth watching and hearing their duet of “I Feel Pretty,” is worth the ticket price.

Rating: 3 Stars