Customer Reviews

Punch-Drunk Love (Two Disc Special Edition)

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PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE was written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. He's also responsible for the ensenble drama MAGNOLIA (1999) and THERE WILL BE BLOOD (2007), an adaptation of Upton Sinclair's novel "Oil! that stars Daniel Day-Lewis.


This is a surprisingly good drama about Barry Egan, an eccentrically shy nebbish of a mattress shop owner whose seven yente sisters manage to keep him single by interfering in his personal life.

Barry discovers a loophole in a food promotion campaign that allows him to amass a million Frequent Flyer miles by purchasing 3K worth of pudding. Thus, his warehouse is stacked with cases of Healthy Choice pudding.

One night, he makes the mistake of his life by dialing a phone sex line. The crooks on the other end keep charging Barry's credit card until he cancels it. After he refuses to reactivate the card and up its credit limit, four thug brothers are sent by blackmailing phone service owner Hoffman. They accost him and girlfriend Lena.

Barry reacts coolly yet violently by quickly beating down all four of them. It's a startling moment, particularly because one can't imagine this little man having such fearsome strength. Barry himself explains it: "I have a love in my life. It makes me stronger than anything you can imagine."

This arty little film contains some of Sandler's best work. Watson is quite good as his girlfriend. Hoffman shines as the villain. Definitely recommended!


Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 imdb viewer poll rating.

(7.4) Punch-Drunk Love (2002) - Adam Sandler/Emily Watson/Philip Seymour Hoffman