“Little Nicky” doesn’t fall in the same category as other Adam Sandler films.

The familiar element of Sandler’s character as the underdog is present, but Sandler’s Nicky uses new ways to make the audience laugh.

At first, this seems to be a bad thing. Nicky’s demeanor and even the way he talks tend to get annoying, but the realization soon comes that Sandler, along with his fellow writers and producers, planned it this way. Nicky is supposed to be an irritating nuisance. And it is at that moment that “Little Nicky” becomes funny.

The most obvious style change is the use of amazingly entertaining special effects. In the past five Sandler films, the most complicated special effect used was a mere glob of fake spit hanging from the mouth of the adorable kid in “Big Daddy.”

Sandler’s past films have been simple, easy to watch and never really over-the-top. It seems that this film is everything they were not. However, Sandler says he didn’t set out to make a special effects movie. It just came with the story.

And that is totally understandable, as the story focuses on Nicky, the love child of the devil and a well-respected angel still living in heaven. (The unlikely duo, of course, met at a heaven and hell mixer.)

Starring film veteran Harvey Keitel (“Taxi Driver,” “Reservoir Dogs”) as Satan, “Little Nicky” was set up to be full of unexpected surprises from the very beginning.

Even with the element of high-tech computer animation present throughout the film, the original Sandler comedy is easily seen and heard. This movie should not disappoint Sandler fans.

The plot follows Nicky’s attempts to find his brothers, both of whom escaped the damnation of hell to go to Earth. The fugitive-style runaway makes the gates of hell freeze over, causing Nicky’s loving father to literally start falling apart, losing fingers and legs and other important body parts.

The characters are funny and diverse, just as the art direction is. This movie is simply fun to look at. Little things happening in the background and the special effects make it a really fun ride.

As for Sandler, who walks and talks in a goofier manner than ever before, and Allen Covert, who plays Todd, they are hilarious.

Surprisingly, the jokes aren’t reminiscent of past Sandler movies, even though some comedic cameos do point down those roads. The fresh humor doesn’t seem to be as immature as Sandler’s norm; it seems smarter.

“Little Nicky” proves to be a great addition to the growing list of Sandler greats. And, fortunately, it is probably the most different of the bunch.