Cobbler - The Shoemaker - Blu-ray

Movie: Max Simkin (Adam Sandler) is a shoemaker in New York, just like his father and his father before him. But Max is not really happy about continuing the small family business. That changes abruptly when he discovers an old leather sewing machine in the basement that seems to have magical powers. Because as soon as he slips into a shoe that has been worked on with this machine, he assumes the identity of the respective owner. Whether charming dandy or transvestite, the loner Max enjoys the freedom this magical machine gives him. But when one day he puts on the shoes of gangster Ludlow (Method Man), he has to discover how dangerous this miracle can be...

Every now and then Adam Sandler tries to prove that he can do more than play the clown in very simple-minded comedies with a deeper sense of humour. In a few cases he was allowed to show real acting talent. Unfortunately, films like The Love in Me or Punch Drunk Love were not big hits with the public, which is why Sandler always returned to safe successes like Child's Head. Now he's trying something more ambitious again, teaming up with Thomas McCarthy for Cobbler. McCarthy has been considered one of the best directors in American independent cinema since Station Agent and Win Win. The conditions for Adam Sandler to finally deliver a film that is well received by critics and audiences alike are not bad at all.

The initial idea of the film is really original and promising: a shoemaker as a hero who becomes a kind of anti-superhero by means of a magical machine - that simply hasn't been done before. But unfortunately McCarthy wants too much, so that he soon gets bogged down in an arguably overloaded story that is nothing half and nothing whole. Besides the comedic part there is also some thriller, some social criticism and a romance. And by the way, the difficult relationship between Max and his father, who left the family many years ago, is dealt with. All this is very well directed and well acted by Sandler and his co-stars like Steve Buscemi, Ellen Barkin and Dustin Hoffman. There are a lot of moments that score with wit and charm and reveal the great potential of the story. But all the successful individual parts just don't want to come together to form a coherent whole.

This is not to say that Cobbler is a bad movie. There's just too much that works for that. And it's undoubtedly Adam Sandler's best film in a very long time. It's a shame, given the great talent in front of and behind the camera, as well as the delightfully absurd initial idea, that the film as a whole leaves a somewhat unsatisfying impression. The finale, on the other hand, is almost enough to make you forget all the flaws. The last few minutes are so absurd and take the story in a whole new direction that it almost makes you want a sequel. Scratch that almost - it makes you want a second installment, which will probably never happen due to Cobbler's disappointing performance at the American box office.

No question, Thomas McCarthy is a good director and Adam Sandler can convince as an actor. But the film that could have been Cobbler, the two have unfortunately not delivered. But friends of more absurd indie comedies get enough good moments that make this movie worth watching in the end. And the last minutes should not be missed anyway, so wonderfully crazy is the idea that McCarthy creates here. All in all, there is therefore definitely still a: worth seeing!

Picture + Sound: The picture is absolutely clean and also features a good to very good detail sharpness in many scenes. The color scheme is coherent and shows its particularly atmospheric side, especially in the outdoor scenes. So there are just as few notable flaws to complain about here as there are with the sound quality. The DTS-HD 5.1 MA mix is pleasantly lively and can convince again and again with good surround moments. The fact that the dialogue in the German language version sounds somewhat central and less harmoniously embedded in the action, as is the case with the original English version, can do little to detract from the positive overall impression. Therefore, there is a more than satisfied overall: Good!

Extras: As a bonus, in addition to the trailer, there is a short look behind the scenes (about 15 min.), which shows with what enthusiasm just director Thomas McCarthy approached this unusual urban fairy tale. Given that, one would have definitely wished his film a greater success.

Conclusion: Cobbler is a big city fairy tale with a delightfully crazy basic idea. Adam Sandler, who finally gets to show some acting talent here, takes on the role of a shoemaker who can slip into other people's lives through a magical machine. This provides material for many amusing moments, but ultimately seems a bit overloaded and half-baked due to many subplots. But the positive aspects are on balance in the majority, which is why there is still a clear recommendable for the technically well implemented Blu-ray at the end!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp