The Cobbler sees Adam Sandler and Tom McCarthy combine forces to bring the superhero genre to heel and give it a little sole

As Paulo Nutini so memorably put it: “Hey, I put some new shoes on and suddenly everything is right” and a mere eight years after that, THE COBBLER picked up the premise quite literally for this this Adam Sandler vehicle, directed by Tom McCarthy, that ties up its laces to walk the fine line between magic and realism while flirting ever so coyly with the superhero genre.

The plot kicks off in the cobblestone streets of New York, where we meet Max Simkin (Sandler), a downtrodden cobbler who discovers a magical stitching machine in his family’s shop. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill Singer; it’s a device that allows Max to literally step into the lives of his customers by donning their footwear. It’s a fascinating premise that promises—and at least partially delivers—a journey filled with humour, heart, and a touch of the fantastical. As Max explores the lives of others, like a podiatric MR BENN, he stumbles into a conspiracy that’s bigger than any shoe size can handle

At its core, THE COBBLER has all the makings of a superhero origin story. Like Liam Neeson’s Peyton Westlake in DARKMAN, Max is an unlikely hero thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Both characters find themselves wielding newfound powers that offer both the temptation of escape from their mundane lives and the moral dilemmas that come with them. Yet, where DARKMAN veers into the realm of dark revenge fantasy, THE COBBLER opts for a lighter tone, so light at times that it feels like nothing much of real import is happening as Max plays with being an equalizer in espadrilles or a Robin Hood in Reeboks.

Much like the masked vigilantes that populate comic books and their cinematic counterparts, Max grapples with the responsibilities his powers entail. However, the film cleverly subverts these tropes, using shoes as a metaphor for empathy and understanding, rather than just tools for battling villainy. This approach not only sets THE COBBLER apart from its peers but also harks back to the moral lessons at the heart of many superhero tales—albeit with more footwear and less brooding. Throw in some gratuitous profanity and a grab bag of pop culture zingers and it could be the superhero movie noted podophile Quentin Tarantino would have made.

As an actor, with a few exceptions, Adam Sandler has two modes: sad or silly. Here, Sandler delivers a surprisingly understated portrayal of Max, but he’s definitely working from his sad playbook, perhaps attempting to complement the style of Tom McCarthy, a director of more substance than Sandler’s usual collaborators. It might make for a refreshing change but the irony is that this is a story which might have benefited from a bit more silly-Sandler energy as it often feels he plays things too safe and too straight for a movie that’s attempting to blend the everyday with the extraordinary. The supporting cast, including the likes of Steve Buscemi, Ellen Barkin, and Dustin Hoffman, add depth and colour to the world McCarthy creates, grounding the fantastical elements in a reality that’s both relatable and enchanting and would have provided the scaffolding for Sandler to cut loose a little more given that all of them are more than capable of holding their own in a broader comedy.

Perhaps, though, subdued is for the best as direction and visual effects in THE COBBLER are subtly employed, favouring practical magic over flashy CGI, helping to maintain the film’s magical realism vibe. McCarthy, known for his character-driven stories, focuses on the human element, allowing the fantastical premise to enhance, rather than overshadow, the personal journeys of his characters.

Despite its charms, THE COBBLER isn’t without its missteps. The pacing occasionally feels uneven, and some plot elements seem underexplored, leaving the audience wanting more from the potential of the world McCarthy hints at. Nonetheless, the film’s heart and humour mostly compensate for these shortcomings, offering a passably entertaining feel-good experience. While THE COBBLER may not tread entirely new ground, it offers a unique twist on the superhero genre, blending the fantastical with the mundane in a way that’s both thoughtful and whimsical. It’s a poignant if somewhat literal reminder of the old adage of not judging someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.

the cobbler review
Score 5/10
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