Charlie Fineman is a wrecked shadow of his former self, his life having drifted into a delusional freefall with the death of his family in the 9/11 terrorist attack. It is only after a chance encounter with his old college room-mate, Alan Johnson that Charlie begins to piece his life back together, the two men re-discovering the bond between them that both had forgotten. Reign over me is Sandler's stab at the more mature cinema goer and though not a complete success there are moments of genuine wit and warmth.