Starring: Adam Sandler, Jack Nicholson, Marisa Tomei

Directed By: Peter Segal

MPPA Rating: PG-13

Running Time 106 minutes

2 Gus Heads out of 4

Adam Sandler seems to have a trend to be going for in his more recent films since "The Wedding Singer." Occasionally Sandler will due something that can appeal to audiences above the lowest common denominator (see "Little Nicky"). Sandler seems to be the kind of actor who can rise to the occasion, and it seemed that "Anger Management" could be this year's occasion.

With film previews showing what looked like a dark comic masterpiece, it also seemed that Sandler might have a costar that could not only match him in stupid comedy, but also could bring a touch of dissenting personality to the Sandler "formula."

Of course this illustrious costar is none other than the multiple-Oscar endowed Jack Nicholson, an actor who, for better or worse, has yet to fail at giving audiences a run for their money. Would Nicholson be able to complete the Sandler equation? Would he put a comedic performance in that equaled the dramatic one he let out in "About Schmidt?" Unfortunately, "Anger Management" is one of those films where the preview promises something the screen cannot deliver.

"Anger Management" is the story of a hapless fellow, Dave Buznick, who has been picked on his whole life. He is a secretary for a vice president of a pet supply company, and does all the work that his boss takes credit for. For those film viewers who have seen any of the movies in Sandler's filmography, the character is pretty much the same as any of his characters: a lovable loser, who, by changing small aspects of his personality, can become anyone from Bobby Buchet to Happy Gilmore. More intelligent and gentle yes, but essentially the same.

Buznick receives a court sentence for anger management after a particularly bad plane ride where he ended up Tasered and grounded. The anger management therapist is none other than his neighbor on the plane ride, the acclaimed Dr. Buddy Rydell, played by Jack Nicholson. Nicholson leads an anger management class, with notables such as Bobby Knight and John McEnroe showing up for cameos, and the "normal" group consisting of John Turturro as a battle stressed Granada veteran and Luis Guzman as a portly gay gangbanger.

Rydell leads the classes in cornball Eastern chants and says things like "Anger is the one thing you can't get rid of by losing it." Rydell is also a bit of a ticking bomb himself and is more prone to getting angry than Buznick is himself. As the movie progresses, Buznick just gets put into weirder and weirder situations with Rydell, and the two go at each others' throats more and more. Rydell even manages to get Dave's girlfriend Linda, played by Marisa Tomei, involved in their conflict, much to Buznick's dismay.

Buznick eventually realizes he does have a problem, but by that point his life seems to have devolved into a battle with Buddy for supremecy. Buddy forces Dave to confront the old block bully who embarrassed him in front of all the neighborhood kids. The problem is that the guy is now a Bhuddist monk. This doesn't stop Dave and Buddy from escalating the encounter into a physical affair. Eventually Buddy gets between Dave and Linda, and Dave is forced to confront both his anger and his fear, or lose the woman he loves.

While all of this sounds very dramatic, the movie stays safely within Sandler realm the whole time. With too many absurd cameos (Woody Harrelson as a German transvestite hooker) and unbelievable plot twists, this movie is much more in the vein of "The Waterboy" than "Analyze This." The direction is well done for the standard Adam Sandler fare, but that pretty much relegates it to "good enough" status. Indeed, director Peter Segal's past works have included "Tommy Boy" and "Nutty Professor II" so the way "Anger Management" turned out should not have been a surprise.

There's nothing wrong with a good lowbrow comedy, but when the menu promises steak and all that you get is burger, the results can be disheartening. "Anger Management" will easily stand up to any of the normal Sandler movies. In fact it's a very funny film all through. Where this movie fails is that the potential was there for so much more, and these obviously talented individuals did not even try to reach for it.