Punch-Drunk Love

Dingbat love has never been as oddly appealing as in this surrealistically fluffy romance from the traditionally somber Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia). Affably, obligingly abstract--from the curiously inspired casting of Adam Sandler as a meek, sad, eccentric romantic hero to the peculiar plot about sex chat-line extortion and pudding-procured frequent flyer miles--Punch-Drunk Love is a charming, strange little movie that strikes at the heart while the head is still trying to figure it out. Sandler's performance is freshly anachronistic but ever-so-slightly familiar as a man-child whose psyche is battered (he has seven domineering sisters who treat him like an emotional punching bag) then soothed after one sister sets him up with a quirky coworker (Emily Watson). They're drawn together like magnets, with the wonderful Watson (Red Dragon) showing altruistic femininity and a sweetly awkward lack of certitude that makes her attraction to Sandler seem like destiny even though she can see he's a fidgety flake. A melodious, astutely unconventional romantic comedy, this is recommended. [Note: DVD extras on this double-disc Superbit release include director P.T. Anderson's 12-minute “Blossoms and Blood” short (featuring costars Adam Sandler and Emily Watson, with music by Jon Brion), 12 colorful “Scopitones” segments, two deleted scenes, a three-minute art montage, a brief “Mattress Man” commercial, and trailers. Bottom line: although the small set of extras wouldn't warrant a second disc on this engagingly offbeat film, the reason they're on another disc is because Superbit releases almost always feature the film on a disc by itself.] (R. Blackwelder)[Blu-ray/DVD Review—Nov. 15, 2016—Criterion, 95 min., R, DVD: 2 discs, $29.95; Blu-ray: $39.95—Making its latest appearance on DVD and debut on Blu-ray, 2002's Punch-Drunk Love sports a fine transfer and a DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack on the Blu-ray release. Extras include a Cannes Film Festival press conference and studio interviews from 2002 (45 min.), an interview and recording session with composer Jon Brion (38 min.), an art segment with curators Michael Connor and Lia Gangitano (24 min.), Anderson's 2002 short “Blossoms & Blood” with costars Adam Sandler and Emily Watson (12 min.), “Scopitones” visual segments (7 min.), deleted scenes (10 min.), a NBC News interview from 2000 with David Phillips, a “pudding guy” short (5 min.), the brief Mattress Man commercial, trailers, and an essay by filmmaker, author, and artist Miranda July. Bottom line: Anderson's quirky romance tale sparkles on Blu-ray.]