Dave Buznik (Adam Sandler) isn't angry - he's actually a really nice guy with a really sweet girlfriend, a decent job, a nice apartment... However, in Friday's release Anger Management, Buznik is unexpectedly forced to confront the silent demons of his boring life.
After Buznik "assaults" a flight attendant - just trying to explain the truth - he asserts in a quiet voice, "No, you don't understand, you see, I didn't get angry, I just wanted my - ," But no one listens - he's just another angry guy, another man in a suit. His temper holds, his frustration boils as he feels smaller and smaller...
You might have felt it on your way to class - the feeling that you couldn't/shouldn't/hated walking past the old Sigma Nu bench. Or maybe after orgo - or whenever you decided that econ was more attractive than pre-med.
But it follows you through life.
So you didn't get the best job; you didn't get into the best graduate school. But, after all, Duke was never really your top choice anyway.
Sure you've been successful - it is Duke; you've done well enough. If only it weren't for that C in intro to calculus with that jerk graduate student who shouldn't be allowed to interact with the human race (not like he can anyway) or that frat guy who happened to get an A on that paper after never attending class. Or maybe if only you majored in public policy...
You did well - but did you really?
It's the sense of an innate inadequacy - that everyone is just a wee bit better, has just a slightly better "connection", that your hard work never pays off. That feeling just begins to well up inside.
That's Buznik's life. His boss is an asshole - taking all the credit for Buznik's hard work. Also, he only went to community college while his girlfriend and her ex attended Brown. Then the flight attendant has to be that incredibly stupid - and then the judge so misunderstanding.
In order to battle his "Toxic Anger Syndrome", the judge assigns Buznik to an "anger management counselor" - Dr. Buddy Rydell (Jack Nicholson). Their interaction is golden as the explicit personality of the real (annoying) Nicholson contrasts amazingly with Sandler's explosive, boyhood charm. Even amongst the still-funny jokes of old Sandler, he is proving to have a unique, charismatic acting voice.
However, more importantly, is the way in which this "odd couple" explores an aspect of our modern world - he film itself forces you to experience the anger and frustration of Buznik.
Are you better than me because you actually got accepted by an Ivy League?
What about the rich boy who's dad got him a job at Goldman Sachs?
Am I better than you because I have an enormous penis?
Like the "Army of One" billboard outside of Buznik's apartment: It's how you accept yourself - not how you let others tell you to be.
- Tom Roller
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