Welcome back to another issue of Your Movie Mage, where I discuss underrated movies across genres. Last week, we discussed the heartbreaking movie, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” and this week, we’ll be discussing the truly lesser-known romance, “Punch Drunk Love.”
“Punch Drunk Love” stars Adam Sandler as Barry, a timid and socially awkward salesman. After falling for a credit card scam while calling a phone sex hotline, he is blackmailed and threatened for his money, despite not being well-off. At the same time, he’s falling in love with a woman Lena Leonard, played by Emily Watson.
This movie is very interesting because it uses various lesser-utilized methods. They use intriguing lighting techniques that emphasize shadows and contrast and unique audio techniques, such as choosing unexpected volume levels. Song choices are also carefully used to enhance emotions and feelings like love and anxiety.
The writing is clearly strong to create such a compelling story, but the acting makes this movie great. Adam Sandler has historically been known as a comedic actor, though he’s shown his range in other roles. This one may very well be my favorite, as he nails the particular mannerisms of Barry.
Emily Watson is also amazing in this movie. Her character has an angelic quality, and she manages to portray Lena as head over heels for Barry, while still remaining grounded in her relationship expectations. She doesn’t excuse behavior, but she understands it and allows for growth and conversation.
Barry’s character is very specific with attributes we don’t see frequently. He’s prone to emotional outbursts and seems to be sensitive and anxious. He has seven sisters who give him a hard time about how he presents himself. They want him to get out of his shell but are unwilling to encourage him in the way he prefers. We see this causes problems and adds stress to an already-stressful situation.
We see that Barry is typically very mild-mannered, making his outbursts more important in understanding what’s going on in his mind. The music is also used to elevate the anxiety he’s experiencing. The movie stands out because it establishes Barry as anxious, lonely and struggling to connect with others, but still gives him a healthy love interest. This relationship doesn’t change who he ultimately is, as Barry learns to find connection without being like everyone else.
This movie makes you feel less alone. It makes you feel understood and shows that you can find happiness without drastically changing everything about yourself. The movie is perfectly balanced with surrealism and realistic characters. This gives it a magical quality, while still keeping it grounded and applicable to viewers’ lives.
I give “Punch Drunk Love” an underratedness score of 4/5, as it has good reviews, but is seldom talked about. I believe it deserves much more attention and praise, though I understand it’s not a film for everyone.