Brill, Steven

Heavyweights

A teenager is sent to a summer fat camp and teams up with the other campers to overthrow the dictatorial camp director.
Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Rating: PG
Release Date: 7-FEB-2006
Media Type: DVD

Little Nicky (New Line Platinum Series)

In Little Nicky, Adam Sandler plays the sweetest of three sons of Satan (Harvey Keitel), who's got to go to Earth and retrieve his nasty, power-hungry brothers lest they take over Hell and make it a thoroughly evil place. As with Sandler's other films, this weird premise (based oh-so-loosely on King Lear) is just an excuse to trot out a hodgepodge of comic bits and cameo performances. Admittedly, a lot of the jokes don't work (there was no need to repeat the one about shoving a pineapple up Hitler's ass), but the ones that do tend to be more memorable than the ones that don't, making for a pretty funny movie, when all is said and done. Sure, it's hard to overcome Sandler's speech impediment du jour, not to mention that romantic subplot with Patricia Arquette, but it can be done by focusing on the brilliant cameos by Regis Philbin, Reese Witherspoon, Ozzy Osbourne, and Henry Winkler (especially when he's covered with bees), as well as one of the funniest uses of a scene from De Palma's Scarface in years. Supporting Sandler throughout are two very funny heavy metal disciples and a bulldog named Beefy (voiced by Robert Smigel, the man behind Triumph the Insult Comic Dog). And, in an almost unrecognizable cameo, that's Clint Howard as the cross-dressing fetishist named "Nipples." --Andy Spletzer

Adam Sandler is Little Nicky, a shy and awkward guy with a penchant for heavy metal music and two bullies for older brothers. And another thing .... Little Nicky is the son of the Devil and lives in Hell. Also stars Patricia Arquette and Harvey Keitel.

Mr. Deeds (Widescreen Special Edition)

Following the flop of Little Nicky, Adam Sandler returned to safe territory in Mr. Deeds... and made Nicky look inspired by comparison. A loose remake of Frank Capra's 1936 classic Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, this dumbed-down version finds Sandler in the Gary Cooper role, inheriting a vast fortune and a corporate empire, foiling a greedy executive (Peter Gallagher), and winning the heart of an undercover reporter (Winona Ryder) who's been mocking his small-town naiveté in print while falling for his goodhearted sincerity. It's fun enough to satisfy Sandler's loyal fans--and John Turturro's a hoot as Deeds's foot-fetishist butler--but the subtleties of Capra are lost on Sandler, director Steven Brill, and writer Tim Herlihy. While Gary Cooper portrayed a rube who was savvy about big-city cynicism, Sandler's an amiable goofball with a heart of gold and an empty skull. You can admire him, and parts of the movie (including Steve Buscemi's unbilled cameo), but you have to work harder to get there. --Jeff Shannon

Without A Paddle (Widescreen Edition)

Three friends trek through the wilderness seeking treasure by following a map from a deceased friend.
Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 2-JAN-2007
Media Type: DVD

To honor a childhood oath, three friends (Seth Green from Austin Powers and Party Monster, Matthew Lillard from SLC Punk and Scooby Doo, and newcomer Dax Shepard) head into the Oregon wilderness in search of lost treasure. After grappling with a bear, whitewater rapids, backwoods psychopaths, beautiful eco-terrorists, homophobia, and a very hairy Burt Reynolds, the boys face their fears and learn valuable life lessons about treasuring friendship and stuff. Dude, it's totally, like, Deliverance for the Gen-Y slacker set! Admittedly, it falls a bit short as a meditation on masculinity, but teen audiences will find plenty to enjoy. The interplay among Green, Lillard, and Shepard has a rambunctious enthusiasm that overcomes the predictability of the script. --Bret Fetzer

Without A Paddle (Full Screen Edition)

To honor a childhood oath, three friends (Seth Green from Austin Powers and Party Monster, Matthew Lillard from SLC Punk and Scooby Doo, and newcomer Dax Shepard) head into the Oregon wilderness in search of lost treasure. After grappling with a bear, whitewater rapids, backwoods psychopaths, beautiful eco-terrorists, homophobia, and a very hairy Burt Reynolds, the boys face their fears and learn valuable life lessons about treasuring friendship and stuff. Dude, it's totally, like, Deliverance for the Gen-Y slacker set! Admittedly, it falls a bit short as a meditation on masculinity, but teen audiences will find plenty to enjoy. The interplay among Green, Lillard, and Shepard has a rambunctious enthusiasm that overcomes the predictability of the script. --Bret Fetzer

In WITHOUT A PADDLE, three friends from Philadelphia decide to go on a canoeing trip in Oregon after the death of a friend. While canoeing down the Columbia River, the trio soon finds themselves in trouble as the river turns dangerous and they encounter a crazy mountain man who lives nearby.

Mr. Deeds (Full Screen Special Edition)

Following the flop of Little Nicky, Adam Sandler returned to safe territory in Mr. Deeds... and made Nicky look inspired by comparison. A loose remake of Frank Capra's 1936 classic Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, this dumbed-down version finds Sandler in the Gary Cooper role, inheriting a vast fortune and a corporate empire, foiling a greedy executive (Peter Gallagher), and winning the heart of an undercover reporter (Winona Ryder) who's been mocking his small-town naiveté in print while falling for his goodhearted sincerity. It's fun enough to satisfy Sandler's loyal fans--and John Turturro's a hoot as Deeds's foot-fetishist butler--but the subtleties of Capra are lost on Sandler, director Steven Brill, and writer Tim Herlihy. While Gary Cooper portrayed a rube who was savvy about big-city cynicism, Sandler's an amiable goofball with a heart of gold and an empty skull. You can admire him, and parts of the movie (including Steve Buscemi's unbilled cameo), but you have to work harder to get there. --Jeff Shannon

A man from a small town goes to the big city to collect an huge inheritance. A lovely journalist poses as a nurse to get his attention.
Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 3-FEB-2004
Media Type: DVD

Heavy Weights [Region 2]

Late Last Night

Adam Sandler Nice & Naughty Gift Pack (The Wedding Singer/Little Nicky)

This 2-title giftpack contains the Adam Sandler hits the Wedding Singer and Little Nicky.

DVD Features:
DVD ROM exclusive web site
Production Notes

3 Movie Comedy Collection (Without a Paddle / School of Rock / Orange County)

WITHOUT A PADDLE
Three childhood friends go into the Oregon wilderness in search of lost treasure. They take a canoe upriver and everything that can go wrong, does. Hunted by two backwoods farmers, they encounter death-defying rapids, tree-hugging hippie chicks and a crazy old mountain man played by Burt Reynolds.

SCHOOL OF ROCK
Jack Black stars as a hell-raising guitarist with delusions of grandeur. Kicked out of his band and desperate for work, he impersonates a substitute teacher and turns a class of fifth grade high-achievers into high-voltage rock and rollers. Joan Cusack portrays the principal of the private school where Black is prepping the kids for a Battle of the Bands.

ORANGE COUNTY
A high school senior dreams of attending Stanford University until his guidance counselor mistakenly spoils his chances.