#17 Big Daddy

The Movie: Big Daddy.1999. Written by Steve Franks, Tim Herlihy. and Adam Sandler Directed by Dennis Dugan Starring: Adam Sandler, Joey Lauren Adams, Jon Stewart, Rob Schneider, with Cole Sprouse and Dylan Sprouse, and Leslie Mann

This is the second Adam Sandler movie I've watched wherein he's been unfairly (and unexpectedly) saddled with a child, and you know what? Sandler is charming when trying to be a good dad. In That's my Boy he's doing this terrible accent, and the character is utterly charmless, EXCEPT when he's having to teach his now adult son how to ride a bike, or going out drinking and rekindling a dead relationship. The problem with That's my Boy is that it was rooted in a real world tragedy. Without that, I was certain that the film could have been pretty good.

Big Daddy proves that point quite nicely.



Throughout this slog of a week (that I completely imposed on myself) I think I've learned a lot. 1. Effort is not always rewarded with success (despite always being evident and refreshing) 2. Sexism is the laziest humor (and pervasive in Sandlers work, including this weeks Big Daddy) 3. Sandler's worst self is the XL tee-shirt wearing, mean spirited, homophobic monster (that only really appears in Pixels and the Grown Ups movies.) 4. Reviewing these movies makes me come off super preachy and 5. Adam Sandler is a movie star, and has a definite place when he's working hard. 

Though this is nice and all, I'd probably trade all the time I spent on Adam Sandler for... wow, I can't even finish that metaphor. He's beaten me. I've been beaten. I think I was going to say something about having my fingernails removed... I don't know man. Lesson #6 do not watch a whole week of Adam Sandler movies. All that said, Big Daddy was a nice break from the very specific comedy that Sandler made his name in.

It might be the best movie (that isn't the masterpiece Punch Drunk Love) that Sandler's ever made. It's honestly kind of weird, because the plot is kind of weak. Adam Sandler gets a kid delivered to his door. He then bumbles his way through being a father, and lies to obtain the custody of the child. and instead of it working out, the answer is more complicated, and Adam Sandler and the kid (Dylan and Cole Sprouse) can't be a family in the traditional sense, but instead stay friends while he lives with his real father (Jon Stewart)

But the film really shines when it is just Sandler and the kid hanging out. There are several montages of the two enjoying themselves and the director does a good job reining in the Sandler rage that his other films suffer from. It's kind of hokey, and there is a weird sexist joke where Sandler gives Leslie Man a hard time for working at Hooters to pay for medical school. But no one else seems to buy into the immaturity. All in all, I'm glad I ended here. Sandler week is over.

Should you watch this movie? Yes. It's pretty good. Cole and Dylan Sprouse are absolutly adorable, while Sandler is actually quite charming as a father who doesn't know what to do.

Where can I watch this movie? Netflix

Recommendation: 
How to fight Presidents is the funniest book I've ever read. It is a encyclapedia of bizarre and interesting facts about the 37 dead presidents (the living presidents are left out, and the reason why is explained in a hilarious prelude to the book.) Written by Daniel O Brien, the book takes a look (in it's own words) at the badasses who ran this country and gives you tips on what to do should they want to fight you. It's sincerely interesting and a very quick read. You can find it on amazon or Barnes and Nobel, (in both digital and Hard copys) Seriously, go read this book.