2002, 1 hr 30 min., Rated R for strong language including a scene of sexual dialogue.�Dir: Paul Thomas Anderson. Cast: Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Adam Sandler, not in a stupid pratfall flick? Too bad. I like those. But following Jim Carrey's lead, can Sandler take on less silliness and more dramatics and still pull off a good performance? Yes. Sandler proves that his charm comes from taking everything seriously, whether it is acting like a lout or, in this case, a quiet man full of rage and self-defeatism.

Even more important, can Sandler take on a role in a Paul Thomas Anderson-directed film? You might remember Magnolia, a film you either hated with a passion or loved dearly. Okay, maybe not. I was on both sides. I appreciated the artistic vision but was underwhelmed by the story. In Punch-Drunk Love, I appreciated the story but was underwhelmed by the artistry. Where it gets annoying is when Anderson throws in shots where he's telling you, "Check this out! I'm a friggin' genius! I'm going to mess with your mind!" Whatever, dude.

Sandler and Emily Watson save the show, however. I'm already a fan of Adam Sandler's humanity, and Emily Watson is always a treat, whether on the eyes, the ears or the heart. Her character seems a bit desperate, but you wouldn't mind if she was seemingly stalking you for attention. Two social misfits finding their rightful pair is always touching.

Thankfully, the movie is only an hour-and-a-half long, because I'm not sure I could have lasted two hours. One can only take Anderson's artistry so long. I actually wrote down "uncomfortable mess" on my notebook during this period.

Despite that, it's a good thing I decided not to leave after the first 30 minutes, something I seriously thought about. Where am I going with this? Unlike Magnolia, where I was into it for the first half but turned off by the second, the second half actually redeemed Punch-Drunk Love. It even became endearing. Sandler and Watson are adorable in the movie, and despite some odd quirks (aren't all quirks odd?) manage to have you rooting for them.

Still, will I recommend this? Not for anyone who doesn't love Paul Thomas Anderson. You have to be in a certain mood to last, and even still while you might appreciate the vision you might not care for the method of getting to the satisfying result.