Sandler’s character is Dave Buznik, which could be the name of a lost Woody Allen character. Buznik, in a twist for Sandler, is incapable of rage at the start of the film, when a series of unfortunate events on an airplane earns him the wrath of the American justice system and forces him into anger management therapy. The cure is overseen by Dr. Buddy Rydell (Nicholson), an oddball who leads a therapy group full of oddballs, including John Turturro and Luis Guzman in minor roles (And neither is all that good with the tiny bit of material they’re given to work with). Rydell’s unorthodox style includes pulling the hand break in Dave’s car as the pair drive over a bridge, nearly causing a massive rush hour traffic accident, and then forcing him to sing “I Feel Pretty” until he gets his anger under control. This is actually less funny than it sounds, and really, it doesn’t sound all that funny to begin with.

It seems that while Sandler has a good handle on what he’s doing and where his character is going, Nicholson’s approach is just to act so crazed that we’ll simply give in to his Buddy, laughing because he’s a nut acting nutty. Personally, I couldn’t wrap my head around what Buddy’s approach is, even as he claims Dave is making progress. If you’re confused as to why people are acting the way they do, well I was too. Eventually a twist ending (ANOTHER twist ending! Enough already!) “explains” the inconsistencies, but by that point, you’ve given up on anything but trying to laugh at the mostly lame comedy.

The leads do have a strong on-screen relationship, and you almost wish the two could get a better script - with a smarter character for Nicholson to play - and redo this whole mess. The concept is so strong, and the first fifteen minutes so well calibrated, that it’s extra disappointing when the rest of this lengthy comedy flails about like a fish out of water (and if you've ever watched that happen, you know it ain't funny). Eventually, Anger Management settles into place where everything feels recycled: even Dave’s apartment looks identical to the one Sandler had in Big Daddy. When Dave and Buddy beat up some Monks, you can really feel the desperation, even as Nicholson wrings some of the film’s biggest laughs through force of will alone.