Eight Crazy Nights
2002 film directed by Seth Kearsley
Eight Crazy Nights (also known as Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights) is a 2002 American adult animated musical comedy film starring, co-written and produced by Adam Sandler. Directed by Seth Kearsley (in his feature length directorial debut), the supporting cast includes Sandler's future wife Jackie Titone, Austin Stout, Rob Schneider, Kevin Nealon, Norm Crosby and Jon Lovitz. Set around Hanukkah, the film centers on Davey Stone, a troubled Jewish alcoholic who is sentenced to community service with the aid of an aging referee in an attempt at rehabilitation.
The title is taken from a line in Sandler's "The Chanukah Song" that compares the gift-giving traditions of Christmas and Hanukkah: "Instead of one day of presents, we get eight crazy nights!" A new version of the song plays over the film's closing credits.
Eight Crazy Nights was released in the United States on November 27, 2002 by Sony Pictures Releasing to a critical and commercial failure. The film was panned by critics, and grossed $23.8 million against its $34 million budget.
Plot
Jewish alcoholic Davey Stone's criminal record has earned him animosity in his hometown of Dukesberry, New Hampshire. On the first night of Hanukkah, Davey is taken to court for his recent criminal activity, which includes dining and dashing, indecent exposure, and destruction of public property. Whitey Duvall, a diminutive, eccentric aging volunteer referee from Davey's former youth basketball league, convinces the judge to let Davey do community service as a referee-in-training for the league. The judge agrees, but warns that if Davey commits another crime before his tenure at the league concludes, he will be sentenced to a minimum of ten years in prison.
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