The Cobbler (2014) User Reviews

The story is so catchy,, the comedy is fresh,, one of the best Sandler's movies in years ;)

[Aktham_Tashtush · 7/10 · 9 May 2015]

The idea of the movie is fresh new ... at the beginning it starts so vaguely intriguing .. if i didn't knew it's Adam sandler's movie and already had watched the trailer and knew it's a comedy i wouldn't get it from that start of New York 1903 story ;)

The plot is catchy starts easy understandable and grows nicely to the flip point where the shoe maker uses that magical "stitcher" machine we saw on the trailer and wears his first shoe ,, there is some predictability but it was still nice storyline to follow.

The screenplay is tight ,, perfectly written, the movie itself is purposeful ,, like literally "put yourself in somebody's shoes" what would you do !! Seeing how everyone's life really is ... having his own life, problems, having fun ...etc until things go waaaaay bad :D

Well as for the cast ,, i mean come on .. it's Adam Sandler and i don't know but i really liked the short appearance of Dustin Hoffman i like him too,, his role kinda brought some emotional moments to the movie ;)

Overall the movie is really sweet ,, not the type of comedy where you find yourself on your back laughing ,, but it works with the events smoothly.

Unique and bizarrely invigorating, The Cobbler is better than Sandler's recent works

[quincytheodore · 7/10 · 9 April 2015]

Adam Sandler has made an array of dubious movies for several years now, filled with cheap jokes and crude slapstick moments. The Cobbler has significantly different direction than all of those, it brings an odd near magical concept that unexpectedly works. While it also has a couple of flaws like some corny jokes and predictable plot devices, it remains entertaining without forced juvenile moments and delivers genuine laughs.

Story follows Max Simkin (Adam Sandler), a cobbler who finds out that his old apparatus has another magical function other than fixing soles. It allows him to change into the person who owns the particular shoes. The premise is good, Max steps into other persons' lives and also the wrong crowd, whose lives are far more diverse than his. Adam Sandler take a different role than his usual silly middle age men role. He brings more of casual awkwardness from a polite man, the addition of background and cultural aspects are also very welcomed to set a more identifiable setting.

Cinematography is slightly somber, certainly a change of pace from Sandler's usual overly colorful tone. To its credit, there are amount of details of the environment and the movie portrays the setting as a fundamental part of it. Humor mostly hits the spot, the jokes will create a few chuckles here and there. Though it's not all gold, it is definitely better than maniac laughs in Grown Up which isn't infectious at all. The film has more focus as it tells the comedy with both subtlety and exaggerated motions.

Actors deliver fair performance. Max's transformation takes him into different skins, all of which are portrayed with shared clumsiness. The body switching subgenre has a few predictable twists, the film also faces this problem, but it creates scenes with enough refinement that makes them refreshing and presentable. Screenplay and script have substantial material, they don't overreach the premise even though there are a few subplots in play.

There are some narrative hiccups towards the latter half, although these are not intrusive and shouldn't deter one from giving the movie a chance. The Cobbler reminds me of Click, it has strange concept yet surprisingly effective. This is an improvement in Sandler's movie line-up and it's certainly worth a view.

Total Surprise!

[sykesm-25135 · 7/10 · 8 October 2020]

I had no idea I'd end up really enjoying this movie! Seriously... total surprise!

worth the watch!

[moviecritic701 · 6/10 · 16 March 2015]

I don't understand why this movie has such low ratings. It definitely is different than movies that you would typically see Adam Sandler in, but none the less still a really good movie. It was different, its appropriate for children. It was a sweet and heart-warming movie. It also had some laughs. It was a movie that I really enjoyed and probably wouldn't mind watching it again. I think this is one movie I am glad I didn't watch based on reviews but because it is an Adam Sandler movie. I think this is showing Adam Sandler in a different light and I love it. I think this role suited Adam Sandler really well it made me respect him more. I would say it is worth the watch.

Are you a 10 and half size feet?

[rollernerd · 7/10 · 30 December 2020]

Welcome back to another edition of Adam's Reviews!! **queue in intro music**

Tonight's movie review is the fantasy comedy The Cobbler (2014), the Sandman plays Max Simkin, a fourth-generation cobbler in New York City who lives with his mother after his father left many years ago and deals with his uninspiring daily life of fixing shoes until he comes across an out of this world stitching machine. Before I watched this flick, I quickly looked at the ratings across different platforms and found out it was soooo low. After watching it, I really do not know why theres so much hate. It's not your typical Sandler comedy flick but the story and acting were great. And give or take it was a bit emotional in particular the scenes between Max and his mother. Throughout the film you find an emotional and light hearted story. Sandler does well in his role and once again shows real depth. This movie doesn't deserve low ratings or negative reviews and I definitely recommend this film to anyone. There is a nice twist at the end and a good message throughout the film which is literally "put yourself in somebody else's shoes." Very unique story and great cinematography of urban New York. There are some narrative hiccups and the end does feel like it transitioned from a heist to a drama film then to a - if you call it, a superhero style film. Overall 7.4/10

This shoe flick won't necessarily steal-etto your heart, but it's a nice movie with a lot of sole.

[rooprect · 16 February 2017]

Oh my Galoshes, there's a lot to say about this movie. I'll try to polish over both good & bad, so at times I might sound like I'm Flip Flop-ing. But rest assured my overall experience was positive, and I came out of the theater feeling pretty Pumped.

"The Cobbler" is an entertaining flick that's good wholesome fun for you, your family and your Keds. My one & only criticism is I don't think it fully explored the moral lessons it could've presented, nor did it delve too deep into the characters. Instead, it deliberately took the route of being a plot driven story, and so it ended up being more of a comedy crime caper than an intimate moral tale. I guess you could say this shoe flick strikes a New Balance between action and heart.

First let's talk briefly about the plot. Adam Sandal-er plays the cobbler Max, a 40-something loser whose life has very little meaning. One day he stumbles on the power to transform himself into any person whose shoes he wears. The story is a clever & original take on the moral lesson: "Don't judge anyone until you've walked a mile in their shoes" (because then you can talk smack about them, and you're a mile away and you've got their shoes). Or something like that.

The entire production is very well done, and all acting performances were excellent. With a supporting cast of legendary talents like Dustin Hoffman, Steve Buscemi & Ellen Barkin, you'd think "The Cobbler" would be a Shoe-in for movie of the year. But I can't help but think it missed a great opportunity to explore the aforementioned moral. You'd think this would be a great way to delve into social prejudices as Max learns what it's like to experience the lives of people of different races, genders and social status. But the film doesn't touch upon that at all, instead remaining rooted in the story of a man who uses his special power to take on the bad guys. That sort of Suede my opinion against the film.

Comedy is sparse & low key but effective. If you're an Adam Sandler fan, you probably know that he doesn't always play the wisecracking comedian, but his serious roles are every bit as good if not better ("Punch-Drunk Love", "Funny People", etc). It's definitely interesting to see him take on the role of Max. He has a way of giving the character a personal touch so you can really Fila lot of emotion. The character is a man of few words, but we can still learn a lot about him through his fleeting interactions and Converse-ations.

So there you have it: a mixed review but overall positive; I wanted to give you an idea what to expect if you watch "The Cobbler". Hopefully Adidas all a favor. This is a nice, breezy movie that'll entertain you for 99 mins, and it has a nice surprise twist that might make you want to hur-Reebok to the theater and watch it a 2nd time.

And as I'm completely out of cheesy shoe puns, I think I'll end this review. See ya Laces!

A unique film with a very different role by Adam Sandler

[stephendaxter · 5/10 · 16 March 2015]

After watching the trailer for this film i can say that i was definitely intrigued because it looked like something a little different for Adam Sandler. And after watching this film not only was this a different role for Sandler it was a very different movie, it felt odd and unique so i give it props for being different. The movie starts out as being very grounded and pretty slow for the first 20 minutes, and i wasn't getting any comedy from the film at that point so it seemed like i was in for a complete bomb. But after then the movie changed, the pacing of the movie stayed relatively similar but it got very weird and at the same time a little more interesting. The idea of someone living out other peoples lives in their shoes was intriguing and made me want to see where they went with the film. Unfortunately where they went was into a series of 4 to 5 different subplots, all of which weren't really that interesting. They offered a few funny moments but none of the humour really connected, not that i was too surprised after Sandler's previous works. But i wasn't as disappointed about there being not nearly enough humour because to me this film was more of a drama than a comedy, sure there are a couple of funny bits but the focus of the film was still on Adam's character Max who was part of definitely the most interesting subplot.

I haven't been able to say this in a while but the scenes with Adam Sandler were actually my favourites of the movie as he is really the only character that undergoes any character development at all. Well, no-one else was really in the film long enough to get any character development or they were just playing various stereotypes. There is a twist at the end that was a pretty good twist to reveal.......... if i hadn't already guessed it two thirds into the film. It was unfortunate but i felt like they hit you over the head too many times with clues so that by the time they revealed it you already knew. Also there are a few cameo's in this film including one by Dan Stevens that unfortunately weren't used to the best of their ability so a bit of wasted potential with some of those characters. So in the end it is still not a very good film but one of Sandler's better ones recently, 1 or 2 good subplots out of 5 and some pretty meaningful and emotional moments are not enough to make up for the not so entertaining and unfunny subplots and predictable ending. If you're looking for a laugh out loud Sandler film this isn't for you but if you are looking for him to play a more grounded role in a drama-like film then you may get a bit of a kick out of this. - 4.5

This isn't the typical Adam Sandler movie, but...

[cleberpassanante · 7/10 · 8 September 2015]

... it's a very good one. If you're looking for something funny, then go watch something else as this film goes far away from the regular comic act from A. Sandler we are all used to.

In fact, this film is anything but regular. This is an out of the box, imaginative and creative story. The plot has a good pace as it keeps presenting characters and information but also progresses quickly through the story. As every good movie, there's a bit of a twist in the end, which was very positive to the story.

In a certain way, it reminds me of two other fine movies starred by two comedy actors but focusing on a creative story rather than a funny one. Those would be "Be Kind Rewind" (Jack Black) and "Stranger Than Fiction" (Will Ferrell). The connection with Be Kind is mainly due to the preservation of the tradition that lies in both plots and how important that is to the course of the story. The connection with Stranger is because of the innovative fantasy that gives such peculiar taste to these stories.

If this film had at least a couple of funny scenes, it would be better, but it is good to take a break from all the dumb comedy movies we have been seeing lately. Definitely worth checking out!

One of the Strangest Films I've Ever Seen

[RustyShacklefordd · 4/10 · 13 March 2015]

I'll start off this review by saying this is without a doubt one of the strangest films I've ever seen. I had actually been looking forward to it because McCarthy's past films have been good and it was nice to see Sandler in a different type of film. It wasn't terrible, but it certainly wasn't good either.

I really have no clue what McCarthy was going for here. The film starts off as an old-fashioned comedy with some drama thrown in, but it eventually becomes jumbled in a bunch of subplots that involve saving the neighborhood a murder plot involving gangsters. Parts of it get a bit dark and surprisingly violent for a PG-13. It's a mix of a dramedy, fantasy comedy, and crime thriller that never mash together leading to the film having a major identity crisis.

I think some people are pinning it on Sandler being the problem here, but he is actually decent in his role. Although, I found it strange that they chose to show the other actors in the roles of the side characters when Sandler is "in their shoes". It would have been funnier and much more enjoyable if it had been done the other way around. Steve Buscemi and Dustin Hoffman also appear briefly in the film, but neither of them are giving much to do.

The main reason why the film fails is because of it's script. As previously mentioned, the film is an uneven mess. McCarthy and Paul Sado are the only writers, but it feels like they had several people write various subplots that were all mashed together. This could have easily been a PG-rated family film if it hadn't been for brief moments of unnecessary nudity and violence that don't serve any purpose. Aside from the unevenness of the whole film, the writing itself is pretty poor. Some of the dialogue is laughably awful and incredibly forced, most of which comes from Melonie Diaz and Method Man's characters. With that said, none of the dialogue is clever or good, but some of the more established actors such as Sandler and Steve Buscemi. There is a point where it seems like the film could take a route of having a message about the way a community interacts with one another, but nothing ever comes of it resulting in a rather predictable story in which the twist can be solved about halfway through.

Despite all of it's missteps, The Cobbler does have a few factors that keep it from being a complete disaster. Sandler himself does a decent job in the lead role. It's not a particularity memorable one despite going out of his comfort zone, but he fits the role and uses that to his advantage. Despite being wasted, the film does feature a great cast including Steve Buscemi, Dustin Hoffman, and Dan Stevens who while given little to do, are nice to see on screen. Even though the story itself is pretty predictable, I never found myself bored during the film's runtime. I'm not sure if it's because of how bizarrely awful some of it is, but the strangeness of the whole thing is enough to keep you amused just to see where it will end up next. Even though I didn't laugh once throughout the entire film, there are some occasional chuckle worthy moments such as a montage early on of Sandler discovering his new ability.

After a long string of bad comedies, I was really hoping The Cobbler would be a step back in the right director for Sandler. Unfortunately, it ends up being a bigger misstep for director Thomas McCarthy. There was potential for this to be something noteworthy for the two of them. Instead, it's cluttered mess of a film that's almost admirable in how bizarre it is. The Cobbler is no Jack & Jill by any means, but it certainly isn't going to do an favors for Sandler's career either.

Worthy of a better rating

[Kingslaay · 7/10 · 4 January 2019]

Creative, interesting and amusing are thoughts that come to mind after watching the Cobbler. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed this film. The concept was very creative and fascinating. It also had quite an alright story to ground the fantasy.

If rewritten or directed differently perhaps with a bit more flair and moments this could have been an incredible film. Nevertheless, it was still pretty good and deserves a higher rating on here.

7.5/10

I wanted to love this film but it just didn't connect with me

[sweeeetmikey · 3/10 · 15 July 2015]

THE COBBLER review by: Mike Smith

Max Simkin repairs shoes in the same New York shop that has been in his family for generations. Max stumbles upon a magical heirloom that allows him to step into the lives of his customers and see the world in a new way.

I watch every Adam Sandler movie with the hope it will make me laugh like Little Nicky, Happy Gilmore, or the classic Billy Madison, or hit me emotionally like Click did. The Cobble was another unfortunate miss. This movie falls short every time and doesn't fully pull the trigger. For instance, the sad emotional parts don't completely deliver the emotion and fall flat. The comedy isn't laugh out loud funny and you only get small chuckles.

The story sounds good on paper but sadly it just didn't lure me in; I tried hard to love this movie but it just felt two dimensional. The cast is full of talented people like Adam Sandler, Steve Buscemi, Dustin Hoffman, Ellen Barkin, Melonie Diaz and let's not forget Method Man. Yes, they work well together but besides Adam Sandler and Steve Buscemi, the chemistry between the rest of the cast seems not to be there. The film's ending felt rushed like the writer didn't know how to end it and the wheels just fell off.

The cinematography is basic but the shots of the New York working class streets make you feel like they are there. Because the movie is about a shoemaker get ready for... you guessed it: lots of shoe shots.

All together I wanted to love this film but it just didn't connect with me. The ending is rushed and outright ridiculous for the last 5-10 minutes of the film. I still have faith Adam Sandler will make a classic movie sooner or later but I would pass on The Cobbler at together. Cheers and remember life won't suck as long as there is a good movie to watch, and I watch the bad ones so you don't have too.

3 out of 10

Edited by Samantha Locke

Twitter: FatMikeTPK Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FatMikesMovieReviews

I honestly don't get all the hate..

[lonniew · 8/10 · 13 March 2015]

As you've read, this is not your typical Adam Sandler movie.. yes it has it's jokes but it's not his typical shtick .. some of that is thrown in for good measure, but this is much lighter.

This has what I thought to be a very good story and even a nice twist, even though I saw it coming before it was revealed, it was still a nice twist.

I think this movie has a lot of heart and it has morality tale spun in for good measure.. It has a pretty good cast of characters as well.. I got my laughs, I got some sincere emotional moments and the "yay for the underdog" moments as well .. I left satisfied!

The KEY to this movie is don't go in with expectations.. if you're going there hoping to see another "Click" or "Happy Gillmore" movie you'll be disappointed..

I honestly do feel bad for Adam because he's gotten typecast .. if he tries to step out of the expectations then people think he sucks.. Jim Carrey has fought that for a long time.. just as so many others have... Give them a chance!

Amusing if finally a bit much

[edgeofreality · 7/10 · 27 December 2020]

Mainly enjoyable fantasy, well played by most of the cast, so that I started imagining all the things you could do in another's shoes. It gets tangled up in its own plot twists and crime capers by the end, and the revelation about the barber was one surprise too many.

If the Shoe Fits, Make a Decent Movie Out of It

[ryanpersaud-59415 · 6/10 · 22 February 2022]

The Good: This is a pretty fun movie, I have to be honest.

What makes The Cobbler stand out from other Sandler flicks is that it takes a killer premise, but doesn't go the direction you'd expect it to. Within the first 15 minutes of the movie, there are at least four or five narrative strands the movie could've have pulled on...and it doesn't tug on any of them, really. Not until later, which means it's a movie that's very easy to get invested in. This film is far more (conceptually) like Flick than Spanglish, but it feels more like the latter than the former. (Btw, Flick is absolutely an argument for how a good premise can be completely ruined, whereas this is how a good premise can be done pretty well).

It's also more grounded in sentimentality and heart than a lot of Sandler schlock. He gives a pretty solid performance too. I don't know, I'm always rooting for the guy and even though I know he's probably a billionaire at this point, he still strikes me as a relatable dude. At least here. No one is particularly "great" in this movie, performance wise, but man, they're having fun.

Side note, the last scene had me in stitches. I don't know if was meant to, but I'll give it credit. If you were to tell me a fantasy comedy about a magic shoe stitching machine would end up being a superhero origin story, I wouldn't have believed you. But I'd also totally want to watch it. Thankfully, The Cobbler exists, so I don't have to wait any longer.

The Bad: The Cobbler's tone is a bit all over the place. Sometimes it wants to be a cute, thoughtful movie about family and sometimes...Sandler's character comes close to committing sex crimes. That sounds jarring, right?

The other big issue are the endless plot contrivances. Things just *happen* because the script says they do, even if they make no sense, are out of character, feel lazy and undeveloped. It's really the worst thing about this movie.

The Ugly: Like many comedies of the "pre-woke" era, this one has jokes and scenarios that straddle the line between playful and "cancel worthy" circa 2022, if you catch my drift. Just putting that out there.

Nearly Plot less and Unenjoyable

[Challenger2013 · 2/10 · 28 July 2015]

The common argument nowadays is that Adam Sandler follows his past formula too closely. The comedic formula he championed in films like "Happy Gilmore" and "Big Daddy" has become bland in newer films such as "Grown Ups 2" and the horrid "Jack and Jill." Most critics suggest that he try new things, work for different directors, and focus on acting instead of having complete control over his films. I mostly agree with this, but with "The Cobbler," Sandler has followed all of these suggestions and still failed to hit the mark.

"The Cobbler," directed by Thomas McCarthy, follows Max, a shoemaker and repairman (hence the title) who lives a boring and undesirable life until he finds an old spinning machine with a special quality. When Max wears shoes that he repairs with the machine, he takes on the physical identity of the owners of the shoes. Sounds interesting, right? Unfortunately, the idea is not well executed and the plot seems like a mindless wonder for a very long hour and a half.

The plot here is practically non-existent. We watch Max parade around as other people for most of the film, then McCarthy attempts to create a storyline, involving gangsters and crooked rich people, in the last thirty minutes. Unfortunately, he tries too hard and it occurs too little too late. The film is promoted as a comedy, but I can't recall chuckling or finding any part of the film humorous at all. The film starts as an attempt of a drama, then becomes a fantasy, then a caper/crime film, and then finally (and you won't believe it) a superhero film. The film does not know where it wants to go, probably because it does not seem to be going anywhere.

The topic on everybody's mind with the release of this film is simple: how is Adam Sandler? Well, he is not "bad" by any means. It seems as though he was trying to recreate his brilliant performance in "Punch-Drunk Love," but he cannot seem to find the same conviction in this one. His performance seems real for the most part, but there are often moments when he looks just as bored as I was. It's hard to blame him too much with the content he was given--his character is pretty hard to like for most of the picture--but the film would benefit from a little more energy in his performance.

Dustin Hoffman recently stated that film is the worst it has ever been at this moment. Whether he is right is debatable, but I can understand how he feels this way after starring in one of the worst films of recent memory. Of course, he is not to blame, and this time, neither is Sandler. What floors me is how a director like McCarthy, who has been so highly praised after his first few pictures, can deliver a film like this. The premise caught my interest, but the product failed to deliver. To be frankly honest, "The Cobbler" is a narrative mess.

Slow and boring

[Mrsbooga · 2/10 · 26 July 2020]

Watched about 50% and turned it off. Very slow and story line just isn't interesting.

There is a lot of big names in this film but don't be fooled it's terrible. Adam Sandler doesn't seem interested in his character

Sandler's best film in a long time

[spmact · 8/10 · 6 April 2015]

I used to be a big Adam Sandler fan, until he started phoning it in with the same kinds of immature jokes and "safe" comedies that sucked but still made a lot of cash.

I'm really glad he branched out and took a chance with this film; I think it really paid off. This film has a lot of heart, some decent comedy, and a nice story. It's more drama than comedy, but it's not too much drama. It even has a nice fantasy element without getting too caught up in it.

I don't get why it has such a low rating. I read some negative reviews by "critics" and thought it was another disappointment by Sandler, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it wasn't. Give it a chance, and if you're not already prejudiced, I think you'll be glad you did.

The trailer make it seems a lot better

[XB-Jedi · 2/10 · 14 March 2015]

This movie is bad in every aspect. Bad acting, bad script, all the story is a mess but it is very predictable. I like a lot of Adam's movies, but this one is another fail for him. His acting is really bad, a lot of his actions are illogical and unreal. The trailer make this movie looks better than it really is. It has mild nudity, some blood and crimes so it is not a family movie in any aspect. The story starts good, it had potential but they didn't approached the story very well, this movie is a failure since the script and some bad acting is just the bonus. If you cut like half an hour of the movie it could have been better. My recommendation is (if you want to watch it) to watch when you don't have any other thing to watch and wasting the less amount of money possible by doing so.

Quite a creative improvement over Sandler's usual poorly made slapstick comedy BS!

[Hellmant · 7/10 · 16 April 2015]

'THE COBBLER': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

A fantasy-comedy film starring Adam Sandler as a shoe repairman (also traditionally called a cobbler) who discovers that an old stitching machine, that's been in his family for generations, gives him the power to walk in his customers' shoes; while appearing to look just like them. It was directed and co-written (with Paul Sado) by Thomas McCarthy (who also wrote and directed such critically acclaimed hits as 'THE STATION AGENT', 'THE VISITOR' and 'WIN WIN'). The movie costars Method Man, Dan Stevens, Steve Buscemi, Melonie Diaz, Ellen Barkin and Dustin Hoffman. It's a bizarre and flawed film but it's also quite a creative improvement over Sandler's usual poorly made slapstick comedy BS.

Sandler plays Max Simkin; a cobbler who works in a New York shoe shop that his dad owned, and has been in his family for over a century. He's tired of his job and wants to quit. He also lives with his mother (Lynn Cohen) and misses his father (Hoffman), who disappeared many years earlier. One day while trying on a customer's shoes, after using an old family stitching machine to repair them, he discovers he has the power to look just like the customer; and any customer who's shoes he uses the old machine to fix. He uses his new-found abilities to do wondrous (and sometimes mischievous) things, which eventually gets him into trouble.

Like I said, the movie is really weird and also not without it's flaws. It's definitely not quite as good as McCarthy's previous films, but it is quite a bit better than most of Adam Sandler's entire film resume (or at least the slapstick comedy flicks). I love seeing Sandler venture out and do different things (like last year's 'MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN', which is fantastic) and although this movie is far from perfect, it's still a great step for Sandler's diversifying career. He also has a lot of great support from his supporting cast; like Hoffman, Buscemi and Stevens. The movie is quirky, interesting and so much better than crap like 'GROWN UPS' and 'JACK AND JILL'!

Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://youtu.be/rxD9sln4Qkg

Non-Comedic - Interesting

[dee-97511 · 6/10 · 18 May 2015]

In my opinion, Adam Sandler, is a very talented actor. I would characterize him as a "dry" comic. To me, he does not compare to other celebrity comic actors known for their animated personalities and comedic timing, and/or ability to make the belly roll with laughter. Nonetheless, his subdued mannerisms and commitment to a role keeps me watching because the movies are generally family oriented and moderately entertaining.

There is a saying that "...there is nothing new under the sun," which can aptly describe the overall gist of this movie.

I compared and contrasted it to "Dead Man Shoes," the Twilight Zone Season 3, Episode 18 (1962) storyline wherein a "bum" stumbles upon a dead man in the alley, takes his shoes, and is instantly transformed, He takes on the mindset and life of the deceased, and subsequently comes face-to-face with the real life drama and conflict that unfolds. When he takes off the deceased shoes, he instantly returns to his reality. Fifty-two years later, "The Cobbler." The script is strikingly familiar and similar to "Dead Man Shoes."

Adam Sandler's script was highly more imaginative and extensive in comparison to the 30-minute Twilight Zone episode. I enjoyed the variations of lives he transformed into as he wore different shoes and the variety of actors and lives he transformed into. I did not care for the character played by Method Man and thought it was characteristically in bad taste. The transformation into the female/male character could have been more sophisticated or none at all. I did not think that Mr. Sandler needed a love interest in this movie, but since it was written in, there was not a clear projection of any romance to make it plausible. There were some interesting scenes and twists. Steve Buscemi and Dustin Hoffman--great additions to the cast.

Overall, I rate it a decent movie--PG. I would recommend it as a good, safe watch. I felt like I had seen it before--but in a good way.

the pickle on top of Adam's career!

[herbalcoolicg · 1/10 · 14 March 2015]

well its sad, but not for the right reasons, after seeing this a little piece of me died, the piece that actually liked Adam Sandler movies, we all make mistakes (jack and Jill was his), but this is so wrong on so many levels, its just a bad movie, I was hoping for a bad movie, you know the famous "so bad its good", well its not this one, this is just shitty... the story is stupid, the acting terrible, its full of gaps and discontinuity to the point that its unbearable to watch it actually made me wanna watch grown ups 3.. do not watch this movie unless you are willing to lose 2 hours of your life and get permanent brain damage.

PS Adam if you are reading this watch the South Park episode 805 "AWESOM-O" maybe you will get something done

A very different sort of Sandler film....that's for sure!

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 15 March 2015]

The Cobbler is a new film that is taking a lot of abuse. It has a very low score on Rotten Tomatoes and many of the critics dislike it. Perhaps some of this is because Adam Sandler has done a lot of films lately which have tanked at the box office. However, I think it's a decent film.

The film is a very odd change of pace for Sandler. It's mildly funny and I would much more describe it as a light comedy-drama-- definitely not a comedy. So, I am sure many folks who see the film will expect to see him a play loudmouth or bizarre character like he has in many of his pictures--and they will most likely be disappointed. Instead, Sandler plays a very ordinary man....incredibly ordinary. He's a Jewish shoe repairman in New York who hasn't a wife and his only family is his elderly mother. His job is repetitive and he has no particular plans for the future.

One day, a nasty character comes into the repair shop demanding his shoes be fixed FAST...or else. However, a very odd thing happens when Sandler's character tries to fix the shoes--his machine breaks. So, he fixes the shoes using an old family stitching machine which they've owned for generations. Then, he impulsively decides to try on the shoes himself and instantly he looks exactly like the owner of the shoes! As an experiment, he tries stitching some other shoes with this same machine and once again, he looks exactly like the owners of the shoes! Obviously the machine possesses some sort of magic. Now this could result in the guy resorting to a life of crime, but he ends up instead having an adventure...one that is just about impossible to predict! I'll say no more about that...I wouldn't want to spoil it.

As I mentioned above, the film probably won't appeal to people wanting a goofy Adam Sandler film. It also only has a few laughs here and there--so many other folks might dislike the film simply because it doesn't meet their expectations. However, I liked the film. It's small feel and lack of the usual clichés and pretenses made me happy. I didn't always believe the story and a few times it seemed even more improbable...but I still liked it. I guess it didn't hurt that the film had an amazing supporting cast which included Fritz Weaver (still going strong and acting at 89), Dustin Hoffman, Ellen Barkin and Steve Buscemi (who has actually been in quite a few of Sandler's films). It also didn't hurt that the film allows Sandler a chance to play a quieter and easier to like guy.

Walk a Mile in Another's Shoes

[alicjaljohnson · 4/10 · 9 July 2015]

The Cobbler (2014) was directed and written by Thomas McCarthy, who also wrote for Up (2009). Starring Adam Sandler, Steve Buscemi, and Method Man, this film is a dramatic look at a simple concept: What's it like to be in someone else's shoes? McCarthy takes this question and creates a storyline in which a cobbler learns that walking in another man's shoes is not only a privilege, but a responsibility. The film is unpredictable but slow-moving, with a main character who it's difficult to care about. Max Simpkin (Adam Sandler) is the fourth generation owner of his family's cobbler shop in the Lower East Side of Manhattan: Simpkin Shoe Repair. Neighboring him is a barbershop owned by a friendly man named Jimmy (Steve Buscemi), and to the other side an attractive young couple. Max appears bored with his life, and when the young and passionate Carmen Herrera (Melonie Diaz) comes to his shop to garner his support against big-time developers who are trying to rebuild the Lower East Side into large building complexes, he shows little interest in protecting his shop. Max lives with his mother Sarah (Lynn Cohen), who appears to be suffering from Alzheimer's. His father is not in the picture, although Sarah wishes have dinner with him one last time. One day, an intimidating and rude man named Leon Ludlow (Method Man) bursts into Simpkin Shoe Repair and demands that Max repair his shoes and have them ready by the end of the night. While working on Leon's shoes, Max's machine breaks and he finishes the job using an older machine in the basement of the shop. As he waits for Leon to pick up the shoes, Max notices that he and his customer share the same shoe size (try saying that five times fast). Out of curiosity, Max tries on the shoes and finds himself transformed into an exact doppelganger of their owner. Max uses his machine on countless other pairs of shoes, becoming each's owner, and begins to do all of the things he had never been able to do as a lowly cobbler.

Any Sandler fan who begins watching this is going to get a big surprise: this is not one of Sandler's usual movies. There are no vulgar jokes, and no slapstick comedy. It's a different look for Sandler, who must act using a script with few words; he doesn't do an awful job. However, Max is a difficult character to like. He doesn't seem to care about anything, which makes it impossible for the audience to be invested in him. When he discovers the power of the stitching machine, he uses it for immoral things: dine-and-dashing, joyriding in random cars, and stealing. Max does care for his mother, but McCarthy doesn't focus on that in the right way; it's hard to like Max at all, even after his character goes through a shift and tries to better himself. Lynn Cohen played a very powerful "Mags" in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013), and she does a great job as Sarah Simpkin in this flick. Although Sarah is a supporting character, Cohen makes her a very memorable part of The Cobbler. Her portrayal of Sarah is one that evokes sympathy and adoration from the audience.

John Debney and Nick Urata are the score composers for this film; two names that I haven't heard before. The score is overwhelmingly akin to a Klezmer style, and it makes the film sound as though it should be taking place right outside of a Hasidic synagogue. This doesn't make sense, considering that "Hasidism" is Hebrew for "Pious Ones". There is nothing pious about Max. Perhaps the music is in this style as an ironic statement, but if so, it's not a very good one. The purpose of a film score is to help set the scene of the movie, and Debney's and Urata's score makes me picture nothing close to the actual Manhattan setting.

McCarthy's script moves the plot along painfully slowly. Then suddenly, halfway through the film the pace goes into double-time, and the events become difficult to connect. The plot is less than organized, with many lose ends that only become more confused when there is a sudden shift at the finish. The audience is left unsatisfied, with several questions in mind. Not thought-provoking questions, but just silly questions that are inappropriately left unanswered. This is The Cobbler's main flaw, and it's unsalvageable.

If you're looking for a laugh, The Cobbler is not the movie for you. It's difficult to imagine that this film was written by one of the writers from Up; the tone and quality are a completely different direction. Many people may disagree with me on this, but Sandler should stick to potty- humor; drama is not a good fit for him.

One of Sandler's Best

[sarah-haverty · 9/10 · 13 March 2015]

I'm really surprised at the low rating! I thought the plot idea was very original for a movie. I thought it was a good idea to involve his heritage too. My only critique is that the love interest was too young for him. But I also liked how the humor was less silly than some of Sandler's other movies- simply because I like to see man of his age mature and transition. I mean, I enjoyed many of his other movies, but I'm happy to see him transition to other forms or levels of humor. Some of the previous moves he made were rough, namely Click, Spanglish, and Punch Drunk Love- I still enjoyed them but I thought they were a little out of touch of his spark. I hope to see more movies of the caliber coming from him, very good and entertaining movie.

A bland idea with an okay execution

[tslinky · 6/10 · 15 December 2020]

Despite the title of the review suggests the film itself is in a few ways great. The production design and premise are great and applied well. The actors and acting are good in some areas and wooden in others. The characters themselves are good but vastly underdeveloped. The writing is sometimes great/ clever and confusing or dumb in others. And the star of it all would be Sandler himself who gives a memorable performance that can be great or terrible depending on your taste. Overall this film is either a hit or miss, it is by no means a masterpiece but it is still worth a watch.