Today’s quick review: Sandy Wexler. Sandy Wexler (Adam Sandler), a passionate but inept Hollywood manager, lands the client of a lifetime when he discovers Courtney Clarke (Jennifer Hudson), a singer with the talent to top the charts. Under Sandy’s questionable guidance, Courtney lands a record deal that makes her a star. But as Courtney reaches the peak of her success, the pressures of the music business drive a wedge between her and Sandy.
Sandy Wexler is a romantic comedy about the relationship between a manager and his top client. Sandy sees the talent in Courtney and stands by her when no one else will, while Courtney looks past Sandy’s scruffy exterior to see the compassion that drives him. The movie splits the difference between an irreverent comedy about making it in show business and a heartfelt story of friendship and persistence, with mixed results.
Sandy Wexler takes a different tack than Adam Sandler’s other work. The oddball, self-sacrificing main character and general sense of humor are familiar, but the jokes themselves are sparser and more subdued. The movie gets its humor from Sandy’s personality, his eccentric clients, and jokes about Hollywood in the 90s. But the movie also takes the time to establish Sandy as a person, and it takes his relationship with Courtney seriously.
The result of this approach is a movie with less immediate appeal than Sandler’s more spirited comedies, but one with deeper rewards for those willing to wait for them. The movie does a good job of showing Sandy’s affection for his clients and how that grows into something more with Courtney. The jokes are not as overly ridiculous as in Sandler’s other work, but they are still entertaining enough to earn some modest laughs.
There are some downsides that keep Sandy Wexler from standing with the better films in the genre. As a character, Sandy is only a partial hit. His obnoxious mannerisms are a steep barrier to overcome, and if he wins over the audience at all, it is only because of the tireless way he supports his clients. The movie also drags in the middle, retreading the same ground until Courtney is ready to enter the next phase of her career.
Sandy Wexler will not be a good choice for everyone. The movie requires connecting with a character who has a lot going against him, and its humor has a hard time making the jump from amusing to hilarious. But those willing to buy into the movie will eventually find what they are looking for: a story about a perennial loser coming through for the woman he cares for. Give it a shot if you feel like a gamble. Skip it if you want surefire comedy.
For a crime comedy about a man who helps a talented singer break into the industry, check out Be Cool. For a much more dramatic Adam Sandler movie about a man with similar mannerisms and character flaws, try Uncut Gems. For an Adam Sandler comedy with a protagonist cut from the same cloth and a more exaggerated sense of humor, try Hubie Halloween.
[5.2 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5893332/). I give it a 6.5 for a hit-or-miss protagonist, modest humor, and a fair amount of heart.