Somewhere beneath the fart jokes and the libidinous-dog jokes and the general Sandlerism of "Click" lies a movie with a good
heart and an uplifting message. And that movie is called "It's a Wonderful Life." This is the second time (after "Mr. Deeds" ) that Adam Sandler & Co. have pillaged a Frank Capra film for their purposes. Capra is fondly remembered for making proudly old-fashioned all-American comedies and moral, patriotic dramas. How Sandler came to inherit that mantle today -- thus becoming the 21st century equivalent of Jimmy Stewart -- I don't know. Maybe it's a coincidence that "Mr. Deeds" and "Click" are both Capra remakes, especially since "Click" isn't even credited as one. What I do know is that "Click" starts out as a lowbrow slob comedy with jokes that don't exactly work and a premise that doesn't exactly make sense and morphs into a Very Special Episode of a syrupy TV sitcom. It eventually abandons all attempts at comedy and for a full half-hour seeks to elicit sympathy for the plight of its main character. That it aaaaaalmost pulls it off is a startling achievement indeed.
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