BY NEIL HARVEY
THE ROANOKE TIMES

Archives Reprint

   Adam Sandler's animated comedy, "Eight Crazy Nights," may be the worst holiday-themed film to come along since "Silent Night, Deadly Night," an '80s horror flick in which a Santa hacked people to death with an ax.

    At least "Silent Night" wasn't a PG-13-rated cartoon targeted toward young audiences. "Eight Crazy Nights" is, unfortunately.

    Davey Stone (voiced by, and drawn to resemble Sandler) is a 33-year old, holiday-hating small-town athlete who long ago gave up sports for booze and bad behavior.

    After he goes on a drunken rampage and ruins a Christmas and Hanukkah pageant, he's forced to help coach a kids' basketball team, which might help him recap-

   ture the ambition and good will that he mysteriously lost as a kid.

    That's a nice if not exactly original premise. Had Sandler, a comedian with legions of young fans, combined his trademark detention hall humor with a clear moral, "Eight Crazy Nights" might've been a sweet, non-preachy fable that kids and parents could enjoy.

    But the filmmakers don't take that route. Instead, the bulk of the movie involves Davey's continuous attempts to injure and humiliate Whitey, a kind, elderly coach who keeps trying to help him.

    I personally have no problem with mean-spirited humor as long as it's funny, but "Eight Crazy Nights" doesn't even have many laughs; it's mostly just pointless and ugly, with occasional lapses into cheesy schmaltz, really bad songs and shameless, bizarre brand name endorsements - would you believe that the logos of a half-dozen national retail chains come to life and offer a msuical pep-talk to Davey? I wish I were kidding about that, but I'm not.

    Usually, when Adam Sandler movies get bad reviews, it's because the critics have a problem with Sandler: They don't appreciate his humor, his funny voices, his bizarre characters.

    But I think his earlier movies, particularly "Billy Madison," "Happy Gilmore" and "The Wedding Singer," are as funny as old school slob-comedies like "Stripes" and "Caddyshack."

    So when I write that "Eight Crazy Nights" is a terrible holiday comedy, it's not because I don't get Sandler. It's because "Eight Crazy Nights" really is a terrible holiday comedy.

    Eight Crazy Nights

    At Carmike 10 at Tanglewood Mall, Salem Valley 8, and Valley View Grande 16. Rated PG-13 for language, crude and sexual behavior, drinking and brief drug references. One hour, 21 minutes.

Let any elected or appointed official know what you think and how you feel by CLICKING HERE.