Little Nicky

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Swimming World’s Movie Review of the Month
Little Nicky


The tremendously popular Adam Sandler retreads his well-worn formula in this devilish comedy that's closer to hell than you might think.
There are many people who think that Adam Sandler must have a pact with the Devil. After all, his brand of goofy low-brow comedy and silly voices has turned him into one of the highest paid film stars in the world. So it may come as no surprise to see him as Nicky - the youngest and most placid son of the Devil (Harvey Keitel), who finds himself sent to New York in order to bring back his more dangerous siblings (Rhys Ifans and Tom 'Tiny' Lister), who have decided to turn Earth into their own personal kingdom.

With that simple premise in place Sandler goes to work, utilising every comedy gimmick he can possibly think of, from a gay flat mate (the film's most effective character) to a tough-talking dog.
But while some of Sandler's previous efforts - such as "The Wedding Singer" and "The Waterboy" - have often resulted in some guilty guffaws, "Little Nicky" has no such luck. Creating perhaps his most irritating persona to date, Sandler manages to get through the entire movie with barely a single gag, save for a few uninspired laughs. And to add to the misery, he also throws in a clumsy attempt at a love story, with Patricia Arquette as his luckless foil.

Some people might appreciate the array of celebrity cameos, including Ozzy Osbourne and Reese Witherspoon, but the bottom line is: an hour and a half with five small giggles does not make a comedy. Thankfully, his normally loyal American audience seem to agree: it's only made a meagre $20 million so far. There is a God....