Little Nicky
2000 · Directed by Steven Brill
Original language: English
- comedy
- fantasy
The story
After the lord of darkness decides he will not cede his throne to any of his three sons, the two most powerful of them escape to Earth to create a kingdom for themselves. This action closes the portal filtering sinful souls to Hell and causes Satan to wither away. He must send his most weak but beloved son, Little Nicky, to Earth to return his brothers to Hell.
What it’s like
Bright, flat studio light and loud, saturated comedy-club colour: Hell arrives as garish reds and sickly oranges, while New York street scenes sit in grey daylight and cramped apartments glow under warm practical lamps. The camera is mostly plain and workmanlike, medium shots and straightforward two-shots that let the physical mugging and wide-mouthed reactions do the work. The sound is a jaunty, cartoonish score over clattering slapstick, with the crude, quick-fire banter pushed to the front. Its vibe is goofy, sweet and scruffy, the sort of undemanding, silly picture that suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a comfort rewatch, or a friend's sleepover. Pacing is loose and episodic, and the emotional core is a lovably clumsy outsider who wants his distant father's approval and finds a home among ordinary people. Violence is cartoonish and bloodless, with tumbles, explosions and monstrous gags; there is coarse sexual humour and profanity throughout, but no real cruelty or sustained menace. It is for viewers who want an affectionate, crude, lightly sentimental comedy with no real darkness.
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