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Let me start by saying that I saw PD-L the day it came out.  That was a long time ago.  I may have forgotten some details, since I've had more inportant things (like, unfortunately, school) to think about.

Before this movie's release, I'd seen several Adam Sandler movies because I was convinced I was missing something by not thinking the guy was a comedic genius.  The only Sandler movie I've loved enough to own and watch over and over again is 'Airheads' (which I only saw in the first place because my passion for Steve Buscemi is surpassed in intensity only by my love for Phil).  

Anyway, my mother and I (she went with since she's a Phil convert) drove about forty minutes to find the ONE THEATER in Wisconsin that was showing the bloody movie.  Along the way we discussed the whole 'Adam Sandler in a Paul Thomas Anderson movie' thing, though we agreed to give the film a chance for Phil's sake.

So.  In addition to these two college-age dudes in front of us (who started squealing when Phil came onscreen, which made mmy mother and me happy; since we basically made fools of ourselves, too), we were the youngest people there!  All these senior citizens were there, probably looking for a light, romantic comedy.  Ha.  They were WRONG.  (And, as we were leaving, several couples said things like, 'well, that was awful' or, 'never seeing THAT one again!'  It was kind of funny, since I was being my usual hyper self and squealing over Phil.)

PD-L is not, in my opinion, PTA's best movie --I disagree with people who says it's flat and pointless, but I don't agree with people who say that Adam Sandler deserves an Oscar for his role.  Both Paul and Adam branched out, though, and it was a good thing they did.  The love story is subtle, but I think it works --Emily Watson's character is a little two-dimensional, but the way she affects Barry seems realistic.  I was a little upset that Barry's Adam-Sandler-esque breakdowns are supposed to make us feel sympathy for him (whereas in other Sandler movies, they're supposed to be funny), but even that doesn't annoy me too much.

It was great to see Luis Guzman in a bigger role --someone needs to cast him as a lead sometime, just to make me happy.  While I liked the supporting cast (Barry's sisters and the Mormons running the phone sex line were wonderful), I thought the movie could have used a cameo or two by another Anderson regular (if only because I have an intense celebrity crush on Melora Walters, and I think she needs to be in all PTA's moies, just so I can sigh) --but Phil showed up finally, and then I felt better about the lack of sexy women to swoon over.

Yay, enough pointless rambling, and onto the INTERSETING portion of this review!  Phil's part, as most people probably know already, is really, really small (a little larger than in 'Hard Eight', and just as memorable, in my never-humble opinion).  As he always does, Phil makes the most of it --in the 'shut, shut, shut, SHUT UP!' scene, he's as hilarious as he's ever been (again, in my never-humble opinion, that scene alone made the trip worth it).  

I have to admit, though this sounds really shallow (not that that's a new thing for me, or anything), that Phil is GORGEOUS in PD-L.  Maybe it's the wardrobe or the attitude, but I remember thinking he was really attractive --and not just 'cute', like always. 

See this movie, regardless of your opinion of Adam Sandler --if you hate him, you'll probably be able to at least tolerate him.  See it because it's a Paul Thomas Anderson film (every Phil fan has to like at least one PTA movie, I declare like the pretentious snob I am), and because Phil doesn't disappoint.

-- Wendy