Oliver Thatcher Watson This film is one of those films that depresses the living crap out of me knowing that so much effort was put into this garbage. I say that because this films animation is surprisingly really good. Almost as good as a Disney film from the late 90s. But the animation is no where near enough to make up for unfunny jokes, mean-spirited premise, overwhelming amount of product placements that would make even the most forgiving viewer sick, and a really bad story. There is no doubt in my mind that this film is one of Sandler's worst. Granted, this movie isn't awful, considering its great animation. But for a holiday film, this is nothing memorable in the slightest. The humor used in this film is not only not that funny, but some jokes and scenes in this film is down-right disgusting. It's almost worse than Movie 43. I don't think I'm able to recommend this film to anyone as there's little to nothing great about it. The animation is no where near enough to save this film. In fact, the great animation seems really off putting for what this film is about, and I couldn't be more depressed knowing that all that effort was wasted on this joke of a holiday special. The only people that I can think of that would like this film are the absolute biggest Adam Sandler fans, but even then, they and every one else would be better off watching something else.

rbn_lrk-1 I just watched Nostalgia Critic do a review of this movie with the famous phone call.This is meant to be crazy.Adam Sandaler stars in this cartoon for a crowd that likes South Park too.This time he plays a drunk guy in a city with Things like reindeer's that pooh.The movie ends with a nice scene of a crowd singing a traditional song.It's a mess of dirty jokes, but with a lot of charm and drama too.The background animation is fine.It's also rare to see a Hannukah based cartoon too.Cool Down this summer with this Winter animated comedy.It's more like a Holiday parody than an actual one.8/10

gregeichelberger Originally published on Dec. 6, 2002: If there's one thing worse than an Adam Sandler film, it's an ANIMATED Adam Sandler film, and the newest Columbia release, "Eight Crazy Nights," is certainly no exception to this rule.And despite some allusions to Dickens' tale of redemption and forgiveness in "A Christmas Carol," this story is vile, depressing and mean-spirited with absolutely no redeeming value but to give the normally intelligent viewer a terrific migraine.The title refers to the eight nights of Hannukah and is about as respectful to the Jewish faith as a Yassar Arafat speech in the West Bank or Adolf Hitler's Nuremberg Laws.Plot has Sandler-voiced Davey Stone, a bitter alcoholic (can you feel the Holiday spirit?!) sentenced to community service by a judge with as much sense as Lance Ito.This punishment, which involves him as a referee for youth basketball games is like putting Jeffrey Dahmer in charge of a Boy Scout picnic. In this position, Stone is sheltered by another ref, Whitey (also voiced by Sandler), a small, goofy old man whose kindness is repaid by being shoved down a hill while using a porta-potty.Sidesplitting so far, isn't it? Another scene we're supposed to laugh at is when Stone insults a pudgy boy by making fun of his breasts. Comedy like will most likely appeal to drunken idiots or college frat guys with absolutely nothing better to do.Another problem with this film is that with each rotten insult, each lame joke and each failing gag is that the viewer - if he or she has ANY brains at all - actually feels embarrassed to be in on it. In other words, there is nothing even remotely humorous about this horrid dung-heap.And Stone, even though a cartoon, is such a revolting, nasty, unsympathetic lead that one feels nothing but open disdain for his character. Even the script's lame attempt to justify his behavior by making his parents die on the eve of Hannakah when he was a kid, does not illicit one bit of positive emotion at all.To make things even worse, the picture is sprinkled with several Holiday song parodies, including a new version of Sandler's "Hannakah Song," making it one of the worst musicals since "Grease 2" and "Newsies." Like any number of Sandler movies (with the possible exception of "The Water Boy" and "The Wedding Singer"), intelligent dialogue is substituted with maniacal outbursts and acts of bizarre violence, while comedy is replaced with vulgarities and just plain stupidity.Then, there's the artwork, which features Stone drawn to look just like Sadler, but other principal characters inked like poor versions of Yoda, while several of the star's stable-mates, including "SNL" alumni Rob Schneider and Kevin Nealon, among others fill up the non-talented vocal cast.All in all, "Eight Crazy Night" is about as cheerful and watching an embalming and is a film that only Ed Gein would enjoy - although he might have had better taste than that now that I think about it.

Mr_Censored Adam Sandler's first (and to date, only) animated feature, "Eight Crazy Nights," takes a cue from his infamous "Chanukah Song" in celebrating the Jewish holiday -- as well as good old commercial Christmas -- musical style. With all the typical Sandler comedic hallmarks, it's certainly not a children's feature, but is admittedly a lot softer and more toned down than, say, "Happy Gilmore" or "Billy Madison." The story revolves around the self-loathing loser, Davey, who is essentially a by-the-books "Happy Madison" character. Since his better days have passed him by, he spends most of his time being drunk and unhappy while simultaneously making everyone around him miserable. Because justice apparently takes a holiday, he is let off the hook for a drunken misdemeanor in turn for some community service. Davey must coach a youth league basketball team with the help of a bizarre little old man by the name of Whitey who has a disturbingly hairy body and who still lives with his sister. Slowly, Davey starts to redeem himself and even takes a stab at winning back the girl who got away from him.Aside from being typical Adam Sandler fare, "Eight Crazy Nights" is rather vibrant in both its animation style and its musical numbers. It's simply a predictable, yet feel-good story that no doubt has worked its way into becoming somewhat of a holiday classic. Adam Sandler provides the voices of all three main characters, while the usual gaggle of co-horts in Jon Lovitz, Kevin Nealon, Rob Schneider and Allen Covert show up, too.