Thank heavens for stupid boys!

>> Little Nicky will light up your life

by MATTHEW HAYS

Just when my faith in the current state of cinema had almost collapsed, just when I thought my cynicism had reached its lowest ebb, just when I thought the alumni of Saturday Night Live couldn't do any more damage to film comedies, I went to see Little Nicky.

What a fool I've been! Man, Adam Sandler just keeps getting better and better with each movie. Think about it: he could be squandering his time making mindless, stupid comedies, but instead, he's brought us fine films like The Waterboy and Big Daddy. Now, Little Nicky can be added to the heap. He could simply retread things, doing whiny, silly voices while making wacky faces, all the while delivering substandard dialogue. Which, come to think of it, is pretty much what he does here, but never mind.

Sandler plays Little Nicky (the hook that inventively supplies the film's title), the son of Satan who must head up to the earth of mere mortals to capture two of his wayward brothers,who threaten to ruin the earthly balance between good and evil. There are so many sight gags here--and I loved every one of them! Since the immortal Sandler has never had to eat before, his sidekick (a talking dog!) must teach him how. So there are these long, extended shots of Sandler--wait for it, it's rich--sticking bits of chicken in his mouth and then (are you ready?) chomping on it with his mouth open! I wasn't entirely certain this scene was funny at first, but having caught the film at a press screening, I was lucky enough to be surrounded by that fine group of people known as film critics. They were lapping up everything, and since Montreal's press corps have always come up with intelligent and thoughtful coverage of the cinema beat, always accurately presenting films to the public while challenging filmmakers to be better, I knew something must be wrong with me and this film must be damned funny.

It is such sheer joy to watch someone like Sandler enhance his skill as a comic actor. The way he squishes his face up, the way he falls down, the weird voices he makes--to see him do it all over again, it warms my heart that he's not taking his fan base for granted. Nope, there's nothing cynical about this project, just a film made with sincere love, a vital effort to help rebuild film comedy in a post-SNL world, a film full of genuine laughs where no one was out to rake in some easy cash. The blood, sweat and tears that went into Little Nicky can be felt in every frame.

There will be those who will dare to turn their noses up at this poor, innocent film. Don't listen to them! They're idiots, cultural elitists, snooty and just don't understand a good time when it hits them over the head with a two-by-four with nails sticking out of it. After all, Little Nicky will earn lots and lots of money and what could possibly speak louder than that?

Little Nicky opens Friday, Nov. 10