Rating: 
Summary: Good Movie
Review: This is a very well done film. Sure, there are no EXPLOSIONS to entertain stupid people, but it contains a well put together work of art. ...
Rating: 
Summary: Not how it appears on the surface.
Review: I'm just going to be frank and I apologize if I offend you.If you're stupid, you go into this movie and watch it as a "romantic comedy." You will find some parts, like when Barry is running from some goons, very funny, but overall the movie will seem dry and uncohesive. If you're of normal intelligence, you will go into this movie expecting an offbeat and interesting "independent" film by the beloved PTA. You will expect weirdness, but the weirdness you see won't be the kind you expected; it will come across as being weird for the sake of being weird. You will think that PTA (Paul Thomas Anderson) is just trying to fool the audience into believing the strangeness of the movie is art, when it is in fact just weird moviemaking. Again, some parts will make you laugh, but you won't understand why this is billed as a romantic comedy. If you have taste and intelligence, you will understand what PTA accomplished with Punch Drunk Love. It is a character study of a man who "doesn't know how people are." It's also a romance that isn't a chick flick. In this society, that's something amazing. The last "romantic comedy" I saw that actually appealed to me as having something to express was "Chasing Amy" by Kevin Smith. PDL inherits the crown from Chasing Amy. Sandler (while probably a tad overrated) does a magnificent job portraying Barry Egan, a depressed, lonely, and socially awkward man dominated by seven sirens (sisters) who are always shadowing his life. The movie is about how love changes Barry. It is not sappy or weird. Barry is a man who exists all over the world. If you thought the movie was weird, watch again. Try to think how someone like Barry would react to the situations in the movie. PTA created a living, breathing person on celluloid.
While there are funny moments in this movie, what many people thought was comedy was in fact quite depressing. There is a sequence in which Barry, overwhelmed with anger, destroys a restaurant bathroom. It is a silly idea, and seing Adam Sandler yell and hit things makes people think "Oh, here comes comedy!"
It wasn't funny. It wasn't supposed to be funny. Barry was in severe pain the entire sequence. Everyone in the theater with me laughed.
However, there is a scene when Barry and his soon to be love are lying in bed, complementing each other. Barry misunderstands a compliment (she says his cheeks are so cute she wants to eat them) and says "Your face is so beautiful that I want to smash it with a sledgehammer." This was weird, but if you THINK about it, you understand. Barry is an awkward guy. You've got to admit, sometimes misunderstanding someone else can lead to some strange comments out of your own mouth. His lover understands that Barry was confused by her comment, and continues on with the banter, letting Barry know that she understands his awkwardness by contributing to the violence/sex imagery, saying something about scooping out his eyeballs and sucking on them. People thought this was gross. It isn't. It's a lovely scene where we can see what it is about this woman that Barry loves. She lets him know that his faults are OK. His awkwardness doesn't bother her. Barry says, uncomfortably, "This is weird." Now we laugh! Of course, sitting in a theater of imbeciles, I was the only one who laughed at Barry's line. Ok, basically, the movie is amazing because the things that appear funny are usually very depressing or beautiful under the surface. The things that are funny don't make sense unless you understand that first point. PTA takes the genre and pulled out everything amazing about it. He reminded me why "love" is such an important concept in Hollywood. See this movie like you would read James Joyce. Get at the meaning underneath. It's not hidden very far. We just haven't needed to look for a few years now.
Rating:
Summary: A vision of emotion
Review: Have you ever danced a jig in public? How about when you felt so anxious you could cry? Stood starring as your whole world fell apart or burst into a sudden flash of awakening? Punch Drunk Love is a frighteningly honest look into our own uncontrolable emotions. Each scene is focused intensly on the moods and perspectives of the POV character, Barry Egan(Adam Sandler) imersing the viewer in a kaledescope of true and false feelings. Tumbling through a chaotic world of disaster and beuty. This movie is a must see for anyone daring enough to handle a glimpse into the dark underside of the human condition.
Rating:
Summary: Punch Drunk Love
Review: This movie is one of my favorites because you walk away from it with the largest smile on your face, yet if you were to explain it to someone, they'd ask why on earth you're smiling. I know that sounds cryptic, but if you enjoy human emotion and it's fickle nature, then go see this movie. Watch it without knowing anything about the movie. Don't expect any one thing and you will be happily surprised that this movie has everything. If you want something to be glaringly funny, telling you when to laugh and when to smile, please don't see this movie. You have to think for yourself and not let a director's set-up tell you when a funny part is coming up. In short, this is one of the greatest, most awkwardly beautiful love stories I've ever seen. It's everything that life encompasses: fear, love, anger, unfair bullies and redemption, anxiousness, and eccentricities.
Rating: 
Summary: Worst Movie I ever Saw!!!!!!!
Review: I have never been as confused by a movie in my life. It made absolutely no sense and was not funny in the least. Maybe the humor was over my head, but I was unable to focus on anything because of the random plot changes and also random interludes filled with colors splashing together. I was never sure why those were even involved in the movie. Adam Sandler does do a good job of acting in the movie, but unfortuately his acting does not make the movie worth seeing at all. I would suggest avoiding this movie at all costs! I only gave it one star because their was no Zero Stars on the pull down menu. Do not pay money to see this movie.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Films of the Year
Review: Paul Thomas Anderson is probably the most talented new director in the industry, with the possible exception of Wes Anderson. With Boogie Nights and Magnolia, he tried to make big Hollywood films with indie supplies, and I have to say, he did a fine job at that. This time around, he tried to do something simpler with Punch-Drunk Love, and he presented to us one of the most extraordinary-looking indies of the past few years. Adam Sandler plays Barry Egan, a single man with his own business who for years has been unable to fall in love and show affection for another. Part of this is due to his upbringing, with seven sisters who dehumanized him in childhood to fear and more or less hate women as an adult. Despite this, he is still a lonely person who never has anyone to talk to when he needs help. One day, he calls a phone sex company just for conversation and finds himself caught up in a credit card scam ran by the repulsive Dean Trumbell (PT Anderson regular Philip Seymour Hoffman). Things get even more complex when Barry meets one of his sisters' coworkers, a timid young woman called Lena, played by Emily Watson. After one date and a few chance meetings in between, they immediately fall in love with each other. To make things even stranger, Barry realizes that if you buy enough Healthy's Choice pudding packages, you could wind up with enough frequent flyer miles to last you your entire life. Though labeled as a romantic comedy, you should expect anything when you see this film. Not to mention that there's more to this film than what I've told you. The biggest surprise of all is Adam Sandler's terrific performance, proving that he can play both a lovable fool and a truly psychologically damaged human being at the same time. Furthermore, Punch-Drunk Love is filled with excellent moments of wry humor, some gorgeous painting-like images, and some unforgettable performances. A real achievement in independent film.
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Film from P.T. Anderson
Review: This movie is a triumph for Adam Sandler. Instead of his usual goofy [character], Sandler acts in this movie, and does a very good job of it. The story is different from any other romantic comedy I have ever seen. The movie is truly about punch drunk love. Emily Watson made a fine performance as the slightly odd woman who has fallen for Sandler. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is superb, as always. Anderson, once again, gives us a film unlike any other.
Rating:
Summary: An unexpected hit
Review: I was a bit skeptical of Adam Sandler's transition into dramatic cinema but, I was totally captivated by his performance in this film. I heart-wrenching tale of a young man trapped in the bonds of mundane life. He struggles hard to rise above the trials that he encounters and you see the raw emotion that Sandler is capable of. A fantastic film!
Rating:
Summary: P.T. Anderson is wonderful
Review: Punch-Drunk love is a wonderful film. After the nearly 3 hour long "Magnolia", Paul Thomas Anderson gives us a much shorter, but just as thought provoking film. There are so many great and funny scenes in this film, that you must see it again and again. But this is far from a comedy. It is an art film and shouldn't be mistaken for a romantic comedy, or some corky Adam Sandler movie. So not all audiences will enjoy the film. This is a must buy though when it comes out on DVD, if for no other reason than the director comentary alone. It's Dee-lish
Rating:
Summary: Everyone Needs to be Loved by Someone
Review: This twisted romantic comedy has many magic moments. If you can get past the equally numerous strange situations, this film will leave you feeling wonderful inside! Adam Sandler plays a cooky guy in his mid-30s who seems to have chronic problems meeting women. The fact that his ever-ridiculing brood of sisters and brothers-in-law seem to be oblivious to the poor guy's needs and the things that he just can't stand. Being teased about embarassing childhood incidents only adds to the stored-up rage within him. Almost at the same time our lonely hero sucoms to calling a 900-number sex chat line that turns into the biggest mistake he ever made, a potential and persistant love-interest enters his life. When witnessing some of the bizarre behavior (smashing up a men's room at a restaurant, being run off the road by a truck filled with hoodlooms, and more!), the young woman who sees a sparkle in his eyes also becomes worried about what she's getting herself into. There are at least 2 wonderful moments of movie magic here. Without giving them away completely, here's something to watch for: When the guy follows his new love to Hawaii and desperately tries to reach her at her hotel room (this takes several attempts from a pay-phone and many minutes of talking to other people), at long last she DOES answer the phone - if you blinked you missed it! - The second magic moment happens only a minute later (and has been effectively used in all trailers, TV ads and the cover of the Video/DVD). A few times I thought that certain scenes (of violence and foul language) were a turn off. It certainly limits the film to a more mature audience (not suitable for pre-teens). As an adult, I still enjoyed this romance comedy, it's one of my favorites in recent memory.****
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