Punch-Drunk Love | Rotten Tomatoes

Jarrod R I have to say, it was difficult to get my bearings on this one for the first 40 minutes or so, but I didn't mind the ride at all. The music, the chaos, the shifts in tone, and the unpredictable performances all coalesced to form a unique take on this "romantic comedy." But to be fair to the director and the performers alike, Punch-Drunk Love defies a cookie-cutter genre. This is one of my favorite performances from Sandler and it shows the range of talent he can bring to a production. Think you know where this is going? No, you don't. PDL is a tight 90ish minutes, but it does also take its time to immerse the audience in the events of Barry Egan, his co-workers, his sisters, the maniacal operator of a phone sex line in Utah, and of course, Lena, the love interest, played perfectly by Emily Watson. This one is waving me over for a repeat viewing, mostly because so much of the music and visuals can drift away if you aren't fully engaged. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/25 Full Review Kevin P A crazy mindf**k of a movie that’s carried by Adam Sandler’s wild performance and the thrilling direction. It’s a really weird and uncomfortable movie, but it’s so hypnotic and has a soft center with a genuinely sweet romance storyline. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/24/25 Full Review Isa B Barry Egan just might be the most lovable character ever written by Paul Thomas Anderson. Adam Sandler gives a career best performance. The entire cast is unbelievable in Punch-Drunk Love. The sound design is marvelous. The blue color scheme is beautiful. Jeremy Blake's video art is on full display. The use of the overexposed light is nice. After Barry punches the wall, you can clearly see the word "love" on his knuckles. A nice touch by the director. I absolutely love the soundtrack. The Popeye song is great! Barry Egan found love and became something of a Popeye in his own right. P.T. Anderson's eye for detail is a big part of what makes him one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. This is a masterful example of his greatness. Punch-Drunk Love is one of my favorite films and I highly recommend it. 97/100 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/24/24 Full Review Mason M Punch-Drunk Love has its fair number of flaws, mostly that the two plotlines can often feel disconnected from one another and that they should've spent more time developing them. But I also really enjoyed this film, Adam Sandler does a great job, it's shot beautifully, and ultimately tells a pretty compelling story. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/26/24 Full Review Griffith J No business looking this good with beautiful/subtle lighting. Strange & random but a warm tone that is just lovely. The screenplay is ridiculous but masterfully crafted. Simple yet uniquely profound with a great score & cast. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/25/24 Full Review julie b Phillip Seymour Hoffman screaming shut up is sensational. Perioooood. Another interesting story by PTA, this is quirky, eerie, romantic, and intense. The movie quickly oscillates between chaos and calm as if you’re right inside Barry’s head, and you never truly know what to expect next.  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/23/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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