Punch-Drunk Love

Sandler won positive reviews for his role; Roger Ebert wrote that "Sandler, liberated from the constraints of formula, reveals unexpected depths as an actor. Watching this film, you can imagine him in Dennis Hopper roles. He has darkness, obsession and power."[1]

The soundtrack was composed by Jon Brion, and features the song "He Needs Me" from the movie Popeye. The soundtrack received an enthusiastic review from classical music critic Greg Sandow.[1] The movie also features the video artwork of Jeremy Blake.

Barry Egan (Sandler) owns a company that markets themed toilet plungers and other novelty items. He has seven overbearing sisters who ridicule him regularly, and leads a very lonely life punctuated by fits of rage. In the span of one morning, he witnesses a bizarre car accident, finds a harmonium left in the street, and encounters Lena Leonard (Watson), who he later learns orchestrated the meeting after hearing about him from one of his sisters, a co-worker.

He tries to find solace by calling a phone sex hotline for conversation, but the operators then attempt to extort money from him and send four henchmen brothers after him. This complicates his budding relationship with Lena, as well as his plan to exploit a loophole in a Healthy Choice promotion and amass a million frequent-flier miles by buying large quantities of pudding. After Lena leaves for Hawaii on a business trip, Barry decides to follow her.

When another run-in with the brothers leaves Lena mildly injured, an outraged Barry calls the phone-sex line and unsuccessfully demands an end to the harassment; he then heads to Provo, Utah to confront the hotline's owner in person. Barry tells Lena his story and asks for her forgiveness, pledging that he'll use his frequent-flier miles to accompany her on all her future trips.

Trivia