The Cobbler: DVD Review
Arriving this week on DVD and Blu-Ray is “The Cobbler”, directed by Tom McCarthy and starring Adam Sandler. The film also features Dustin Hoffman, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Steve Buscemi, Ellen Barkin, and Melonie Diaz. Those who enjoy Sandler’s usual brand of low-brow humor, like “Grown Ups” or “That’s My Boy” will probably not find much to laugh at with “The Cobbler” as this film is a much more low-key Sandler comedy.
The story centers on Max Simkin (Sandler), a lonely cobbler who isn’t quite happy working in the business that has been passed down from generation to generation. Max’s life goes through a sudden change when realizes he has the ability to become anyone who’s shoes are repaired by him while using a magic machine. The only catch is that the shoes must be a size 10 ½.
At first, Max has some fun with this new found ability. He tries on a whole lot of shoes and becomes a wide array of people. The fun turns to danger when he puts on the shoes of a thug (Method Man) and gets in over his head. Max winds up getting involved in a situation with a slum lord (Barkin) who has plans to have an elderly man killed so she won’t lose a ton of money in a real estate deal.
“The Cobbler” goes a little darker than I expected and it just feels uneven. It isn’t bad and it does entertain, but it isn’t really funny. If you are someone who loves Adam Sandler, this is definitely one of his better films in recent years, but that’s not setting the bar all that high.
By: Marc Ferman