Punch Drunk Love: It's as Weird as it Sounds

I first saw this movie when it was released on DVD in 2003 fully knowing it would not be a typical Adam Sandler, gut-buster comedy. And although armed with that knowledge I still managed to come out of my home theater dumber than I was going in, apologizing to my brain for putting it through the rigors of a completely unexpected – and unnecessary – workout. However, determined to figure out what the movie was all about, I immediately began studying the special features only to find more nonsensical garbage. Defeated and alone, I promised myself to one day crack the film’s weirdness and understand it in its entirety. Though not this night, my brain was too tired.

However, that day would eventually come – four and a half years later – after having watched yet another SNL alumnus – Will Ferrell – foray into a serious acting role in Stranger Than Fiction (which I will review at a later time). It was then that I recalled suffering through Sandler’s first attempt at a non-comedic role so many years ago…and the promise I had made to suffer through it a second time if that’s what it took to make sense of it all. Being a true man of my word, I prepped myself with some mental pushups, dusted off the two disc special edition DVD, and focused in on the 50” plasma like a man possessed.

Success would be mine this day, and with it a realization that some movies just need a second chance to be understood.

The story is simple: Barry Egan is a socially inept small business owner prone to sporadic fits of rage – he has his seven domineering sisters to thank for that. He lives his days lonely and depressed until a chance meeting with an attractive woman, Lena Leonard, (played by Emily Watson) outside of his office-warehouse changes his romantic fortunes. However, a previous call to a phone sex operator proves to be a costly mistake threatening his financial well being and jeopardizing his blossoming relationship.

Yeah, I know. You’re reading that last line and thinking, “What the f?” Well, it will inevitably become your mantra because you’ll find yourself repeating it all throughout the movie. That’s what makes Punch Drunk Love so pleasantly awkward. There’s not just one conflict here. There’s many. And they’re not your typical woman-falls-in-love-with-man-then-has-second-thoughts-but-ends-up-living-happily-ever-after variety. Barry faces conflict with his sisters who greet him as “gay-boy” and question every little move he makes. He faces conflict within himself, breaking into tears for no reason whatsoever. And yes, the ultimate conflict, a sex line scam involving a sex line operator/hairdresser, a pimp/mattress salesman, and four brothers who can only be described as the redneck version of Children of the Corn: The Adult Years.

Come to think of it, even the burgeoning romance between Barry and Lena could qualify as conflict. Just getting to that first date was a hassle in and of itself. And once the relationship transitions from “just dating” to “going steady” Lena’s quirks become more apparent and you begin wondering if she too is harboring any abnormal tendencies of her own. It’s a certain look in her eyes that suggest something playfully sinister about her character. In other words, she’s probably just as whacked out as Barry if not more so.

But for all the great play on conflict this movie seems more suited to film students than general audiences. Imagery, camera angles, and sound all seem to play an important part in the story’s makeup. A harmonium is a prominent feature in this movie that I still don’t quite get. My guess is it represents his relationship with Lena in that he cares for this beat up, old instrument that’s obviously been through a lot. But why wouldn’t they just represent that in the relationship itself? As well, telephones are used in just about every scene most likely to reinforce Barry’s social ineptitude. There are a number of other nuances contained in this film that serve to either annoy or entertain. I like to think the latter. If anything, it makes for good conversation with others who have seen it, observing parities between other’s interpretations and your own.

Though Sandler’s character exemplified all of his strong points as an actor – introvert capable of violent streaks – his first attempt at a more serious acting role is still memorable. There are a handful of funny moments though this film depicts them in a more refined manner.

However, if you’ve never seen this movie and are thinking of buying it…don’t. Rent it first before making a decision. I watched it a third time and got bored.

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