'Little Nicky': More hell then heaven

by James Fowler
FOR THE POST

For years critics around the world have characterized Adam Sandler's films as the living embodiment of hell on earth. He has been chastised for constantly using the same material in every one of his movies, and he is likely to face the same damnation with his latest flick Little Nicky.

That said, it's only fitting that he portrays the son of Satan in the film, which deserves an "E" for effort since it makes an attempt to do something different.

Once again Sandler portrays an underdog, but this time he's got magical powers because his father (Harvey Keitel) is Satan. After Satan unexpectedly chooses to rule hell for another 10,000 years, two of his sons (Rhys Ifans, Tom Lister Jr.) decide to teach their dad a lesson by staging a King Lear-like rebellion. The duo flees to Manhattan and tries to establish their personal hell. This doesn't bode well for Satan since his powers and physical appearance will continue to diminish as long as his boys are gone. It's up to Nicky (Sandler) to track down his older brothers and restore order.

A plot such as this could go in a variety of directions and that is exactly what happens. Sandler plays the straight man throughout most of the film and this plot device works because it allows the other characters to get a few laughs at Nicky's expense. The most intelligent character (no surprise) in the movie is a talking bulldog voiced by Robert Smigel. He helps Nicky adjust to life in the Big Apple and gives him advice on how to woo Valerie (Patricia Arquette).

Ironically, the movie's biggest problems come in the form of two of its stars. Patricia Arquette's performance is bland. She conveys little emotion, and the best moment from her comes early in the film when Nicky accidentally insults Valerie by asking her a very lewd question. It's actually a relief when Valerie leaves and the talking dog shows up instead. Now that Little Nicky has been released nationwide, Arquette can add another lackluster performance to her already stellar resume.

Only one question remains for Harvey Keitel: What were you thinking? This is a man who has appeared in more than 40 films during the last three decades. He's worked with such directors as Martin Scorsese and Jane Campion. Yet, in this film he's reduced to playing second fiddle to both Adam Sandler and Popeye's Chicken, which gets more plugs than an ad during the Super Bowl. It's amusing to see him parody his tough guy persona, but not like this. There's only one conclusion as to why he accepted the role - much like his character, Harvey Keitel's career is falling apart.

But the film does have more going for it than just a talking dog. It is literally a Saturday Night Live reunion with Dana Carvey, Jon Lovitz, Kevin Nealon and Rob Schneider all making cameo appearances. Also, Reese Witherspoon provides a few chuckles as Sandler's angel mom.

Nevertheless, the film (like all of Sandler's movies) could have been better. The finale features Nicky going one-on-one with his brother Adrian, who has taken over Manhattan. A group of New Yorkers cheer Nicky on, including a townie (Rob Schneider) who yells, "You can do it!" If he's referring to Sandler's ability to make his fans laugh then he's correct. But if he's referring to the comic's knack for making great movies, then that's another matter all together.