Chad Eisenberger

This is a movie that you will either love or hate, there seems to be no in-between (most reviews are either 1 or 5 stars; I didn’t see any 3 star reviews). I am sadly in the 1 star camp. And I stand here in awe that anyone could be generous enough to give this movie even 2 stars. People I know and respect raved about this movie - so much, in fact, that after watching it I felt like I must be the butt of an elaborate and global practical joke, which seems fitting for 2020. Looking at the other 1-star reviews you will get the idea that this is a disjointed mess of a film; filled with non-stop anxiety with no substance. No one to root for. No one to identify with. No reason, really, to care about the resolution of the film other than praying that the end comes soon. So no need to rehash all that here anymore than I already have. The biggest failing is that Sandler’s character, Howard, is so without any redeeming qualities that the audience does not understand why anyone, ANYONE, would trust him, love him, or otherwise deal with him. So when he interacts with customers, partners, family, loved ones, potential business partners, bookies, pawn shop owners, collectors, etc... you just don’t believe that they would give him the time of day unless it was their first time dealing with him. It’s like when a movie casts a beautiful woman to be the lover of the awful, not-so-attractive guy (oh, did I mention they do that here?), you just don’t believe it. So in the end I found myself wondering why they would make this film (global practical joke theory still seems like the most likely explanation). I have read the 5 stars reviews and I’m convinced that these people (fine people, I’m sure) either watched a different film than I did, or they were so confused by the film that they thought they should give it a great review or otherwise be seen as a simpleton who just doesn’t understand fine art as this unentertaining mess must be - right? - “didn’t you think it was great? I sure did! Boy aren’t we smart?!” Or they are otherwise just in on the joke.