Reign Over Me (2007)

“Better bring out the big guns on this one. She’s crazy with a side of crazy! ” – Alan Johnson

Number of Times Seen – Twice (22 Aug 2007 and 6 Jun 2019)

Brief Synopsis – A successful dentist reignites his relationship with a former college roommate who has been suffering from psychological problems ever since his family was killed in a plane crash a few years earlier.

My Take on it – This is a film that I recall seeing not long after it came out and it made a big impact on me at the time.

This is a movie that is able to show the way a friendship between people can come and go over the years yet when the people get back together, they feel as if very little has changed in their relationship and they can pick up where they left off.

Having a strong anchor is important or everyone yet this film shows how integral it can sometimes be.

Don Cheadle is great in the lead role and one again proves how great a actor he can be.

Adam Sandler tho is superb here and is yet another comic actor that can take dramatic roles to a whole new level.

The character that Sander plays is developed really well and allows us to see the kind of trauma someone can suffer through and feel the need to create their own little world in order to cope.

Sandler and Cheadle have amazing chemistry together and it’s quite easy to believe that they are suppose to be friends for so many years despite a hiatus.

This movie also does a great job showing how PTSD can affect people and cause them to be lost in this world and not know how to find a way to find themselves again.

The story and plot moves in some nice ways and some of the scenes that they show allow us to become even more endeared to these characters because we get to learn so much about their lives and their hope for change even if it seems out of their grasp.

I really liked the way that certain important plot points are left ambiguous throughout most of the film because when the reveal finally shows us, the impact of the knowledge makes things even more emotional and compelling to watch unfold.

Bottom Line – Excellent look at the way friendships can come and go over the years but if they have a strong anchor they can do wonders. Cheadle and Sandler are both spectacular here because we can believe that they use to be best of friends and then see how their fractured friendship is able to pick up where it left off. At the same time, this film also is able to look at the way PTSD affects people who become traumatized by an event and are unable to find a way to find themselves. The story moves in some nice ways in order to help endear us to these characters as they both seem to learn more about themselves and the world they each inhabit as their bond gets stronger. Liked the way that certain plot points are left ambiguous for most of the film because once they are revealed it makes an even greater impact on things. Recommended!

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – At first Adam Sandler declined his part because he was terrified of it, although he thought the character was incredible after he read the script. A month later, he re-read the script and decided that he wanted to do it. (From IMDB)

Rating – Globe Worthy (8/10)