"LITTLE NICKY"
(2000) (Adam Sandler, Rhys Ifans) (PG-13)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Heavy	Moderate	Extreme	Minor	Minor
Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Heavy	Minor	Mild	*None	Heavy
Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Heavy	None	Minor	Moderate	*Heavy

---

QUICK TAKE:

Comedy: The meek son of the Devil is sent to Earth to capture his two renegade brothers who are determined to usurp the throne of Hell from their father.

PLOT:

After ruling Hell for the past ten thousand years, the Devil (HARVEY KEITEL) must choose which of his three sons will take his place on Hades' throne. Either Adrian (RHYS IFANS) or Cassius (TOMMY "TINY" LISTER JR.) seem the most likely choices since they're certainly evil, with meek Nicky (ADAM SANDLER) having no chance due to his weak and less than evil nature.

When the Devil decides to continue ruling rather than appoint one of his sons, Adrian and Cassius are outraged and set out for Earth where they'll convert enough souls into supporting them that they'll be able to overthrow their father. Passing through the gates of Hell and overcoming the Gatekeeper's (KEVIN NEALON) attempts at stopping them, the rebellious sons' actions freeze the gates and set into motion the slow, disintegrating death of the Devil.

Prompted by the Devil's assistant, Jimmy the Demon (BLAKE CLARK), his grandfather, Lucifer (RODNEY DANGERFIELD) and the desire to save his dad, Nicky agrees to travel to Earth for the first time to return his errant siblings. Armed with a magic flask that will capture them should they fooled into drinking from it, Nicky arrives up top with no knowledge of how anything works there.

After being accidentally killed and returned to Hell, Nicky is sent back to Earth where's he then accompanied by Beefy (voice of ROBERT SMIGEL), a talking dog and old friend of the Devil's. Showing Nicky the ropes, Beefy helps him track down the brothers and sets him up with a roommate, Todd (ALLEN COVERT), who's presumably in denial of his own homosexuality.

As Nicky tries to find and channel the evil within him to battle and then capture his brothers who can possess people and thus look like others, he meets and falls for fashion student, Valerie (PATRICIA ARQUETTE), while being aided by heavy metal Devil worshippers, Pete (PETER DANTE) and John (JONATHAN LOUGHRAN). With less than a week before his father disappears and Adrian takes over, Nicky does what he can to stop that from happening.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?

If they're fans of Sandler and his movies, it's a good bet they will.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13

For crude sexual humor, some drug content, language and thematic material.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:

ADAM SANDLER plays the meek son of the Devil who isn't cut out to be evil and hopes to stop his rebellious brothers' plan and thus save his father's life. He also uses one instance of strong profanity and gets high from eating some pot-laced cake.

PATRICIA ARQUETTE plays a design student who's instantly attracted to Nicky and, despite a brief setback, tries to help him.

HARVEY KEITEL plays the Devil, the ruler of Hell who doesn't think any of his sons are worthy of acquiring his throne.

RHYS IFANS plays one of his sons who rebels against him and tries to usurp that throne by discounting God and religion on Earth and taking the souls of those who follow him. He also picks on Nicky.

TOMMY "TINY" LISTER JR. plays the Devil's other rebellious son who also uses profanity. He also picks on Nicky.

ROBERT SMIGEL is the voice of Beefy the talking dog who assists and advises Nicky and has a reputation of being a party animal.

ALLEN COVERT plays Nicky's human roommate who seems to be in denial about being gay (at least that's what everyone thinks).

PETER DANTE and JONATHAN LOUGHRAN play two heavy metal dudes who are excited to have met Nicky and his devilish abilities. They also get high from eating the cake they laced with pot.

BLAKE CLARK plays the Devil's right-hand man.

RODNEY DANGERFIELD plays Nicky's grandfather, Lucifer.

KEVIN NEALON plays the Gatekeeper of Hell who finds himself punished by the addition of two female breasts on his head.

REESE WITHERSPOON plays an angel who had a fling years ago with the Devil.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

---

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

---

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The following is a brief summary of the content found in this PG-13 rated comedy. Profanity is rated as heavy due to 1 use of the "f" word (along with another partial use), while other profanities and colorful phrases are also present. Various scantily clad women are seen in various scenes, a character is afflicted with the presence of two realistic-looking bare breasts on the top of his bald head (that other characters caress or comment on), while some crude sexual humor is present (in the form of a large bird that humps a man in Hell, the sight of two dogs mating, etc.) as is some non-explicit sexually related talk.

Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes (including two brothers from Hell who pick on their meek brother and wish to usurp their father's throne by convincing people that God and religion are a sham), while several instances of imitative behavior may prove to be enticing to impressionable kids (including being a Peeping Tom and killing others since it's okay as they'll simply come back to life again later).

Such lethal violence, while not usually graphic and all played for laughs, is joined by other instances of people striking others in attempts to harm them or simply move them out of their way. Some instances of people being struck by trains and buses, etc. are occasionally graphic with somewhat bloody/gory results. A few instances of scatological/crude humor are also present.

Meanwhile, several characters and a talking dog get high from knowingly eating a cake laced with marijuana, while others drink (including a joke about the drinking age being lowered and our then seeing three young kids stumbling out of a bar, drunk). If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone in your home, you may wish to take a closer look at our detailed content listings for more specific examples of what occurs in the film.

---

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE

A peeping Tom has a glass of wine while watching a woman undress.

In a flashback, we see some buxom women pouring liquor into Beefy's mouth and hear him stating that he's "wasted."

While posing as a priest, Adrian dismisses God in front of a congregation. One woman then gets up and states that God helped her son get off drugs. Adrian (as the priest) then replies that he knows her son and that he was better on them, and that the son on hashish occasionally made him laugh.

After Cassius, posing as the Mayor, announces that he's dropped the drinking age from twenty-one to ten, we see several kids come stumbling out of a bar drunk (with one then vomiting).

Adrian drinks peppermint schnapps.

When a kid is asked why he came to watch a Harlem Globetrotters game, he replies "for the beer and the bitches" (women).

A guy states that he put some reefer into the cake they're now eating and we then see Nicky, Beefy, Pete, John and Todd all high and laughing from having ingested that drug-spiked cake.

A police chief drinks.

Pete and John try to convince Adrian that they're drinking peppermint schnapps from a flask (but they're not and there's none in there).

An angel states that she met the Devil after having several daiquiris at a Heaven/Hell mixer. Later, the Devil comments about how crazy she gets after a few daiquiris.

BLOOD/GORE

Hitler is brought in for his daily punishment that consists of him picking out a pineapple and the Devil then shoving it up his butt. Dressed in a French maid's outfit, Hitler bends over (facing the camera headfirst) and we then see the Devil's arm with the pineapple and hear the scatological sound of it being inserted (but don't see the actual penetration). Later, we hear another farting sound as another object is shoved up his rear (just like before with nothing seen).

Beginning to decompose/fall apart, we see one of the Devil's human-like fingers dangling from his hand by just a piece of skin. Jimmy then pulls off that finger. Later, the Devil's ears fall off one by one and we then see him with partial legs and then no legs at all.

We see Beefy urinating on Todd's welcome matt.

Beefy tells Nicky that he can "sh*t" on the street, but that Nicky needs to use a toilet. We then see Nicky pulling up his pants after squatting on the sidewalk (but we don't see any nudity or bodily functions).

We see a drunken kid doing some projectile vomiting from being drunk.

We see blood and related goop splatter when a truck hits Nicky.

A police chief (really Adrian) puts his finger and then hand way up inside his nose (causing another man to tell him to pick a "good one") and then pulls his body out of the police chief's body.

Strung up along with others by Adrian, Valerie tries to spit on him but he simply swallows it.

Adrian fires a beam of sorts that hits a creature from Hell that then explodes, sending yellow gore and goo over everyone standing nearby.

A man's face is all swollen and gross looking, apparently from many bee stings.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE

It's possible that some viewers may take offense at the film's comical portrayal of Hell, the Devil and his offspring, as well as that of Adrian posing as a priest and denouncing God and religion (as does Cassius) while doing so.

The film may also offend gays, black people and the handicapped through its portrayal/use of such characters in the story (Todd is accused of being gay because of his effeminate ways; the only major black character is a thief/jive talking black man; and a joke stems from men in wheelchairs violently crashing into the side of a bus).

A peeing Tom waits in a tree for a woman to go into her bedroom and undress.

We hear that Cassius hit Nicky in the face with a shovel sometime in the past, thus permanently disfiguring him.

Adrian and Cassius constantly pick on Nicky (and make him do and say things to others) and then decide to break the rules and overthrow their father (thus potentially killing him) by traveling to Earth to convert everyone to their side (and steal their souls) by denouncing God

A man steals Nicky's retrieval flask while Nicky sleeps and then tries to sell it as his.

Cassius, posing as a basketball ref, calls all sorts of fouls and deducts points from the Harlem Globetrotters (who are always supposed to win).

When a kid is asked why he came to watch a Harlem Globetrotters game, he replies "for the beer and the bitches" (women).

A TV reporter makes the announcement that she's cheating on her husband with the weatherman.

FRIGHTENING SCENES

It's possible that the youngest of kids might find scenes listed under "Violence," as well as the overall thought/sight of Hell (played for laughs for adults, but kids might see it differently) and the sight of Nicky turning into a bunch of scurrying spiders - each with miniature Nicky heads - as somewhat tense or unsettling.

GUNS/WEAPONS

Machine guns: Seen being fired in footage from the movie "Scarface."

Assault rifles: Carried by police.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR

Phrases: "Popeye's Chicken is f*cking awesome," "Bullsh*t," "Who gives a sh*t," "You can't do jack sh*t," "The sh*t has hit the fan," "Horse sh*t," "Holy sh*t," "T*tty twister," "Horny," "That/this sucks," "You really suck," "T*t head," "Moron," "Numb nuts," "Pissing," "Bitch" (man to man), "Dumb ass," "Kicking some ass," "Cut the crap," "Bitches," "He sure is butt ugly," "Chicago kicks ass," "Pissed my pants off," "Freaked out," "Pissed off," "Slut," "Suckers," "Shut up," "Freak," "Balls" (testicles), "Freaking" and "Horn dog."

A peeping Tom sits on a tree branch while watching a woman undress in her bedroom.

We see Adrian and Cassius playing darts with a live man's head being the bull's-eye. We then hear (but don't see) a dart hit the man in the eye (which is played for laughs).

Humor stems from punishing Hitler by having objects such as pineapples and flasks shoved up his butt, and it's possible that some kids could get the idea to "punish" others or pets in a similar manner.

Excited over discovering Nicky, Pete and John purposefully head-butt each other.

Adrian makes Nicky give "the finger" to Valerie.

When a kid is asked why he came to watch a Harlem Globetrotters game, he replies "for the beer and the bitches" (women).

Nicky, Beefy, Todd, Pete and John knowingly eat cake that the latter two have laced with marijuana.

So that he can return to Hell, Nicky tells John and Pete to kill him. They try (by banging his head down against a counter or table top) but only injure him. Todd then says that he's always wanted to kill someone and we then see him holding Nicky under the water in a bathtub. Later, Valerie "kills" him again by hitting him over the head with a large rock.

While heading toward Valerie's place, Nicky passes by a window where he spots a man dressed in women's clothing, dancing about and rubbing his own clothed nipples. Later, we see this man dripping hot wax from a candle onto his own chest.

The Devil does some suggestive tongue licking toward an angel.

JUMP SCENES

A bus suddenly hits Nicky.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)

A mild amount of playfully suspenseful music plays in a few scenes.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)

While we didn't hear anything, some songs on the soundtrack included lyrics that couldn't be understood, thus offering the possibility of possibly containing something objectionable.

PROFANITY

At least 1 "f" word (while another one, used with "mother," is almost said in full), 14 "s" words, 1 slang term using male genitals ("d*ck"), 3 slang terms for breasts ("t*t" and "jugs"), 7 damns, 6 asses, 3 hells, 2 craps and 10 uses of "Oh my God" as exclamations.

SEX/NUDITY

A peeping Tom waits on a tree branch for a woman to undress in her bedroom. As she removes her shirt (and we see her in her bra with cleavage), he begins to hum the typical stripper tune. He then says to himself that he wants to rub her feet, but not with his hands and then adds that Victoria (as in Victoria's Secret) just told him her secret. The woman then begins to caress her breasts and this man asks if those things are for him. She then begins to undo her pants, but her young son comes in and interrupts her.

After dying and going to Hell, that peeping Tom states he was just a horny bird. In turn, the Gatekeeper says that he'll show him a "horny bird" and we then see a human-sized bird grab this man and do some pelvic thrusting up against his clothed butt.

As punishment for letting his sons escape, the Devil causes two bare female breasts to appear on the Gatekeeper's otherwise bald head (they look real). Lucifer then wants to take this man back to his room.

Later, we see a large, furry creature that's caressing those breasts on the Gatekeeper's head (that are covered by a bra). Even later, that furry creature is all excited as the Gatekeeper flips around the tassels on those bare breasts on his head. Later, Lucifer spots the Gatekeeper and states, "The last time I saw a pair of jugs that big, some hillbillies were blowing on them.'

In a flashback, we see some buxom women dancing in a strip club in skimpy, cleavage revealing outfits.

While posing as a priest, Adrian asks if God has given anyone's enemies "the herpes." When a woman then states that God helped her and her husband conceive a baby, Adrian states that a neighbor was the one who helped conceive the baby and that "he helped conceive it all night long."

We see Beefy mating with another dog and hear him telling the pooch he's mounted to say "Mr. Beefy." We don't see the actual penetration, but do see the dog above the other one and see the related movement.

Adrian makes Nicky tell Valerie that she has a nice "heart-shaped heinie" and that he wants to have sex with a gross pig.

A TV reporter states that the motto for New York has been changed from "I love New York" to "I love hookers."

We see an older woman in her bra at a basketball game.

While heading toward Valerie's place, Nicky passes by a window where he spots a man dressed in women's clothing, dancing about and rubbing his own clothed nipples. Later, we see this man dripping hot wax from a candle onto his own chest.

Lucifer makes a comment about being turned on.

A TV reporter makes the announcement that she's cheating on her husband with the weatherman.

The Devil does some suggestive tongue licking toward an angel with whom he previously had an affair.

SMOKING

None.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES

Nicky worries about his ailing father.

Adrian and Cassius rebel against their father - causing his pending doom - but there's not much traditional family tension arising from that.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT

The film's portrayal of Hell, the Devil and his offspring.

Beefy's urging Nicky to release his evil.

So that he can return to Hell, Nicky tells John and Pete to kill him. They try (by banging his head down against a counter or table top) but only injure him. Todd then says that he's always wanted to kill someone and we then see him holding Nicky under the water in a bathtub. Valerie later "kills" Nicky with a large rock (but he's later seen alive, no worse for the wear).

The various entries listed under "Imitative Behavior," as well as that of a scene where Cassius, posing as the Mayor, announces that he's dropped the drinking age from twenty-one to ten, and we then see several kids come stumbling out of a bar drunk (with one then vomiting).

VIOLENCE

Most of what's listed below is played for comic-book style laughs.

A boy fires his slingshot at a Peeping Tom, hitting the man and causing him to fall from his tree. While we only hear his impact on the ground, we see that he died from the fall as he then appears in Hell.

We see Adrian and Cassius playing darts with a live man's head being the bull's-eye. We then hear (but don't see) a dart hit the man in the eye (which is played for laughs).

Cassius uses his mind control to make Nicky repeatedly hit himself on the crotch. In turn, the Devil makes Cassius hit himself in the face.

Cassius throws a rock that hits a creature in Hell.

Cassius and Adrian knock down the Gatekeeper as he tries to prevent them from going the wrong way through the gates of Hell.

A train hits and kills Nicky (sending him back to Hell where he's fine).

A crazed and seemingly homeless "priest" knocks several people aside/down as he tries to run away from Nicky down a crowded sidewalk.

A bus suddenly hits and kills Nicky.

While trying to discover whom his brothers have possessed and are hiding in, Nicky grabs a delivery guy who then proceeds to punch and kick Nicky. A cop then hits Nicky with his billy club.

A crazed "priest" runs down the street and into a street lamppost, knocking himself down and possibly out.

We see blood and related goop splatter when a truck hits Nicky.

Regis Philbin states that he acted like Robert De Niro (in "The Untouchables") when he took a bat to a man who cut him off (not seen).

Cassius, posing as a basketball ref, makes various basketball players repeatedly bang their heads against the scoring table. At that same game, a man pushes a concession man down the steps.

A basketball backboard shatters as Nicky dunks the ball and we briefly see an announcer whose hair is on fire (played for laughs and not terror).

Valerie sprays mace (or something similar) into Nicky's eyes when he shows up unannounced at her place, and she then punches him in the face.

Nicky causes a fire hydrant cap to pop off and the ensuing blast of water knocks a crazed "priest" through a window.

A bunch of guys in wheelchairs chase Nicky (thinking he's a mass murderer) and then collectively run into the side of a bus.

We see footage from the movie "Scarface" where Pacino and others fire machine guns.

So that he can return to Hell, Nicky tells John and Pete to kill him. They try (by banging his head down against a counter or table top) but only injure him. Todd then says that he's always wanted to kill someone and we then see him holding Nicky under the water in a bathtub.

A police chief (really one of the brothers) pushes people out of the way at a train station.

Adrian grabs Valerie and threatens to harm her. Beefy then shoots a harpoon of sorts out from his body (while raising his leg) that impales Adrian in his leg. Valerie then bites him on the hand, both fall down in front of an oncoming train and Nicky manages to save her just in time, but the train hits both him and Adrian, killing them both (in a figurative sense, since both come back).

A visual joke has a creature from Hell biting into a bunny instead of some fried chicken, but it's only played for laughs and certainly doesn't look realistic.

Adrian fires a beam of sorts that hits a creature from Hell that then explodes, sending yellow gore and goo over everyone standing nearby.

A man fights with a woman and kicks her on the leg.

Adrian pushes two small people aside and then punches Nicky in the face several times. Nicky then takes Adrian and smashes his head against a bedpost on a bed that's suddenly appeared. The two then get into a pillow fight and Nicky then punches Adrian.

We hear the sounds of three people fighting inside a small flask (into which they've all been sucked).

A man bites off a bat's head (but not graphically).

We see that a man has been stung many times by bees.

Valerie hits Nicky over the head with a large rock to kill him and send him back to Hell.

Reviewed November 6, 2000 / Posted November 10, 2000

Other new and recent reviews include:

Privacy Statement and Terms of Use and Disclaimer
By entering this site you acknowledge to having read and agreed to the above conditions.

All Rights Reserved,
©1996-2022 Screen It, Inc.