– This is a story for every workaholic, but the question is will they take a day off from work to go see it? Michael Newman (Adam Sandler) is an overworked father of two kids and a beautiful wife (Kate Beckinsale). His boss (David Hasselhoff) runs the architectural firm where he’s employed. When after a long day at the office, Sandler can’t figure out how to turn on the television – he keeps hitting remote buttons to instead open the garage, etc. – he goes to Bed, Bath & Beyond for the experience of his life. Way “Beyond” is Morty (Christopher Walken) a kooky inventor (think Christopher Lloyd in “Back ToThe Future”) who has a universal remote to make things easier. Instead, it turns out to be the mother of all remotes that can change Newman’s private universe. He can fast forward his wife’s arguments or pause for sexier moments. Soon Newman’s addicted. While the movie feels comfortable, its crutch becomes the all-too-familiar jokes of life – the family dog humping, the farts, penis size – which leaves us treading through one cliché after another. Not to mention more product placement in a movie than has ever existed in Hollywood history. That said, it manages to corral in every generation of viewers, by appealing to small children, to forty-somethings, and then all the way to grandparents, as the movie makes a drastic turn to the dark side (when Sandler accidentally fast forwards his remote to his elder years.) If you’re over forty, you won’t need a remote to make you feel old. Henry “The Fonz” Winkler plays Sandler’s father and grandpa to his kids. And speaking of old, Julie Kavner plays the mother. You’ll remember her as Rhoda’s sister, Brenda Morgenstern from TV in the 70’s. The movie is entertaining and a more mature stretch for “The Water Boy,” who pulls off his daddy role flawlessly. One looming question: Isn’t it the woman in the house, not the man, who can’t operate multiple remotes? THREE CROWNS
