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Rating: 4 stars

All movies seen on 11/27/2002

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Eight Crazy Nights (2002)

Directed by Seth Kearsley

Holiday | Animation

Most recently watched by schofizzy

Overview

Davey Stone, a 33-year old party animal, finds himself in trouble with the law after his wild ways go too far.

Rated PG-13 | Length 76 minutes

Actors

Viewing History (seen 1 time)


Date Viewed	Device	Format	Source	Rating
11/27/2002	Movie Screen	Film	Theater	4 stars
				(Average) 4 stars

Viewing Notes

This review originally appeared on ZENtertainment.com. As of the last capture on August 22, 2003, it had received 1,410 views.

8 CRAZY NIGHTS Returns to Sandler Craziness

Keep this in mind for your holiday treats: mix one small town, a sentimental story, yuletide cheer and spice it with a little Adam Sandler scattalogical humor for good measure. With such a blend, 8 CRAZY NIGHTS provides an enjoyable, although rather adult, holiday movie for the older set.

Davey Stone (Adam Sandler) is a good Jewish kid - at least he once was. Now, down on his luck, Davey is a ne’er-do-well that spends his time breaking laws and berating others for pure enjoyment in the small, wintry town of Dukesberry. After being arrested for public intoxication and damaging public property, Davey is on trial for what is perhaps his last time, given a checkered and rather unlawful past. The judge thinks Davey needs nothing but the penitentiary, but local goodnik Whitey Duvall (Sandler) is convinced that he can turn him around by working him as a children’s basketball ref at the local Jewish Community Center. Naturally, while working, Davey is anything but caring, often berating the kids he is supposed to be helping. Despite Davey’s continued problems, Whitey trudges on, trying to reform him into the good kid he knows he can be. Whitey is unsuccessful for a time, until a window to Davey’s heart opens by playing basketball with Benjamin (Austin Stout), the son of old friend Jennifer (Jackie Titone).

Like any usual any Happy Madison production, Adam Sandler’s universe of characters is, if nothing, unique and the townspeople of Dukesberry are no different: Whitey is a four foot tall, white haired man with one oversized foot. Whitey’s fraternal twin sister that he lives with, Eleanore (Sandler again) shares the same physical aspects except she is bald and her opposite foot is oversized. Sandler’s unique characters always make for an interesting movie, if sometimes the only interesting part.

Fortunately, this movie succeeds where Sandler’s MR. DEEDS failed. Yes, again Sandler plays the hero, but for once his character is not someone you care for right away. The theme of the film is not unknown to Sandler fans: Davey is analogous to Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore and Deeds - that of the man that starts small and troubled but ends with ultimate victory. However, Davey’s story almost plays second fiddle to Whitey’s primary story - his pursuit for acceptance in the community. And while twisted romance is a constant factor in Sandler movies, in NIGHTS that story takes a backseat and receives little attention until the end. 8 CRAZY NIGHTS is truly a warped story of personal loss, failure and the drive to succeed.

For those hoping for a return to Sandler’s comedy stylings of old - do not fear, because Adam is back. Although I won’t go into too many details, scattalogical, random humor receives prime billing in 8 CRAZY NIGHTS. Keep an eye out for the deer.

Be warned, NIGHTS is an animated semi-musical, a la any early-90s Disney movie. The songs, while bordering on too many, do move the story forward and are often hilarious.

Adam Sandler’s 8 CRAZY NIGHTS is a return to a mix of humor and sentiment not seen in a Happy Madison film since THE WEDDING SINGER. It will have you laughing and caring at the same time.

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