Anger Management (2003)

Anger Management DVD

Revolution Studios
Starring: Adam Sandler, Jack Nicholson, Marisa Tomei
Also Starring: Meatball
Directed by: Peter Segal

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Dave Buznik (Adam Sandler) is the timid employee of a pet clothing company who lets everyone walk all over him. But his world turns upside down when he inexplicably finds himself having to attend court ordered anger management classes with a seemingly unhinged teacher, Dr. Buddy Rydell (Jack Nicholson).

Featured Feline: Dave is working on a line of clothing for overweight cats called the Husky Cat Clothing Line and his model and muse is Meatball, a hefty orange tabby. When Dave brings Buddy to work with him he shows off one of the outfits he has designed, including a little beret.

Anger Management - Meatball orange tabby in purple outfit with beret

Dave’s rival Andrew (Allen Covert) walks in and Meatball hisses at him.

Anger Management - Meatball orange tabby hisses at Andrew

Later Dave is in a stall in the bathroom and he hears footsteps approaching. Nervously he opens the door to find Meatball sitting outside.

Anger Management - Meatball orange tabby outside bathroom stall

Images of Meatball are seen off and on throughout the film. Finally Dave delivers the Hefty Cat Clothing Catalogue to his boss (Kurt Fuller). The boss points out that Dave’s “fat sh** cat” has been sitting on his couch all day. We see Meatball wearing a red hoodie sweater.

Anger Management - Meatball orange tabby on couch in red hoodie

Dave gives the catalogue to his boss and the man is shocked to see that Dave has photoshopped the man into compromising photos with a tabby cat (we’ll spare you the screengrabs of those images!) Meatball is not in these images (apparently Dave didn’t want to subject Meatball to a scandal!) Andrew then enters and explains he got the promotion Dave had been hoping for.

Anger Management - Meatball orange tabby on couch with Andrew

Dave sets things straight and as he’s leaving the office he explains that the cat’s name is Meatball and that he’s currently eating the boss’ crabcakes.

Anger Management - Meatball orange tabby in red hoodie eating crabcakes

Meatball played the part of a fat cat wonderfully. In reality, Meatball wasn’t fat at all, he wore a fat suit made of fiber fill which was hidden beneath the outfits he wore. According to the American Humane Association’s website fans were provided on the set to make sure the cat actor didn’t get overheated in the outfits. Also cat food was hidden in the crabcakes which Meatball was supposedly eating in his last scene.

Anger Management - Adam Sandler holding Meatball orange tabby