Month: May 2024

“I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.” —Principal

Today’s quick review: Billy Madison. Billy Madison (Adam Sandler), the idiot son of a hotel tycoon (Darren McGavin), is shocked when his father says he will retire and leave his company to Eric Gordon (Bradley Whitford), a scheming vice-president. To prove he has what it takes to lead the company, Billy re-enrolls in grade school and tries to graduate in six months with the help of a beautiful third grade teacher (Bridgette Wilson).

Billy Madison is a comedy about an unintelligent man who goes back to school to win a bet with his father. Adam Sandler stars as Billy, who spends his days living off his father’s wealth and never applying himself. Returning to first grade, Billy makes new friends, revisits old schoolwork, and learns to do something with his life. Billy Madison scores a few hits with its humor, but its story and comedy may skew too low-brow for some viewers.

Billy Madison has two main sources of gags: Billy’s immature and the incongruity of a grown man going through grade school. The upshot is that this lets the movie experiment with a lot of ideas, some of which work out. Billy pulls pranks, flirts with teachers and parents, and competes aggressively with children a fraction of his age. The downside is that many of the jokes come across as crude, miscalibrated, or simply forced.

Nearly everything about Billy Madison is hit-or-miss. Billy’s behavior is loud and grating, the plot is contrived, and the school humor consists of taking ordinary situations and making them absurd or uncomfortable. But for the right viewer, Billy Madison will be just the right kind of ridiculous. Give it a shot if you are a fan of Adam Sandler’s style of raucous humor. Skip it if you are searching for something refined.

For an Adam Sandler comedy with a similar sense of humor, try Hubie Halloween. For another Adam Sandler comedy about an ordinary man fighting for a hotel chain, try Bedtime Stories. For a more thoughtful comedy about a mentally challenged man thrust out into the world, try Being There or Forrest Gump. For a comedy that operates on similar rules and has more flair, try Zoolander.

[6.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112508/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for uneven humor that sometimes hits the mark.

Today’s quick review: Happy Gilmore. Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler), an aspiring hockey player, discovers his true calling when he realizes that his fast slapshot gives him a phenomenal golf drive. Under the tutelage of Chubbs Peterson (Carl Weathers), Happy takes the golf world by storm, using brute force to make up for his lack of experience. Along the way, he makes an enemy of Shooter McGavin (Christohper McDonald), a stuck-up golf pro.

Happy Gilmore is a sports comedy about a novice golfer who defies every unwritten rule of the game. Adam Sandler stars as Happy, a hockey player whose boisterous antics make him a controversial figure on the golf course. Happy Gilmore follows its hero as he learns the rules of golf, competes with the pros, and tries to win the money he needs to save his grandmother’s (Frances Bay) house from being taken by the IRS.

Happy Gilmore makes its premise work for it. Happy’s slapshot is just ridiculous enough for some comedy without undermining the rest of the story. The humor stays focused on golf rather than veering off into weird tangents. Happy is a likable protagonist, a fairly ordinary man who brings his down-to-earth sensibilities to the golf pro tour. Finally, the story is a satisfying underdog sports plot with a nice sense of progression.

The end result is a comedy that knows exactly what it’s trying to do and pulls it off. Happy Gilmore is a fine pick when you’re in the mood for something light, well-calibrated, and more focused than other comedies of its kind. Not everyone will like Adam Sandler’s sense of humor, and the story is a little more laid-back than other sports movies, but Happy Gilmore’s strengths are enough to give it broad appeal. Check it out.

For an even goofier underdog sports comedy, check out Dodgeball or Kingpin. For a classic golf comedy, try Caddyshack. For another comedy starring Adam Sandler, try Big Daddy or Anger Management. For a kids’ sports comedy about a boy with an incredible fastball, try Rookie of the Year.

[7.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116483/). I give it the same for well-judged comedy in a tidy package.

Today’s quick review: Uncut Gems. Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), a New York jeweler with a gambling addiction and a mountain of debt, has a scheme that will solve all his problems: auctioning off a rare black opal. But when Howard mistakenly loans the opal to NBA player Kevin Garnett (Kevin Garnett), he has to scramble to get the gem back and sell it before his loan shark Arno (Eric Bogosian) comes to collect.

Uncut Gems is a crime drama about a jeweler whose professional and personal lives are on the verge of collapse. Adam Sandler stars as Howard Ratner, a man whose talent as a salesman is equaled only by his capacity for self-destruction. The film follows Howard as he tries to pay off his debt using a complex series of loans, bets, and jewelry sales. Uncomfortable situations and a memorable lead make Uncut Gems a strong pick for the right viewer.

Uncut Gems makes for a very effective character study. Howard is fascinating to watch. He makes one short-sighted decision after another in an effort to stay afloat, and he’s always one unlucky break away from catastrophe. The film pushes Howard to his limits with a series of setbacks that force him to lie, threaten, and grovel to survive. Even then, Howard’s situation rapidly deteriorates as his actions catch up with him.

The art of Uncut Gems is that it makes a man like Howard Ratner sympathetic. Howard lies aggressively, uses the people around him, and cheats on his wife Dinah (Idina Menzel) with his employee Julia (Julia Fox). His only redeeming features are his dreams of making it big and his residual love for his family. Yet the film convinces the audience to look past Howard’s flaws and root for him anyway, no matter how much of a lost cause he is.

The end result is an engrossing, often painful tale about a man ruining what’s left of his life. Uncut Gems is one of the rare films that manages to have a deeply flawed protagonist without compensating for his flaws with glamor or charisma. Still, the film’s gambit will not work for everyone. To get the most out of Uncut Gems, you must be able to invest in a man at his worst. For Howard, some viewers will not make the effort.

For a similarly chaotic crime comedy about a priceless gem, check out Snatch. For a crime drama from the same director that also deals with deeply self-destructive decision-making, try Good Time. For a more glamorous tale of wealth and addiction, try Blow, Lord of War, or Wolf of Wall Street. For a less severe drama about a man addicted to sports gambling, try Two for the Money.

[7.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5727208/). I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for an uncomfortably well-crafted character study.

Today’s quick review: Anger Management. After an altercation with a flight attendant, Dave (Adam Sandler), a long-suffering executive assistant, gets assigned to anger management class with Dr. Buddy Rydell (Jack Nicholson), a therapist known for his unconventional treatments. Buddy begins to invade Dave’s live, doling out dubious advice, interfering with Dave’s relationships, and pushing Dave to the brink of a nervous breakdown.

Anger Management is a comedy about an unassertive man who is forced to get intensive treatment for his supposed anger issues. Stuck with Dr. Rydell day in and day out, Dave finds himself in a nightmare scenario where everything he does lands him deeper in trouble. Anger Management is one part ridiculous comedy, one part social trap, and one part rumination on anger. However, the movie’s unusual story structure makes it hard to get into.

Anger Management has a knack for setting up frustrating situations. Dave’s words are turned against him, innocent gestures are misinterpreted, and his attempts to cope are met with unfair treatment that pushes him further into a corner. All of this makes it cathartic when Dave starts to push back. Moreover, the surreal nature of Dave’s predicament lets Buddy engage in the out-of-bounds behavior that fuels most of the film’s humor.

The downside to Anger Management is that it is hard to tell exactly where the movie is going. Buddy shifts between ally and antagonist several times depending on whether he is sabotaging Dave or helping him grow. More broadly, Dave’s role in the story is unclear. He could be an ordinary man who is pushed too far, a quietly angry man getting the treatment he needs, or a vehicle for anger jokes; the movie leaves it ambiguous for a long time.

Anger Management makes for an odd but fairly entertaining pick. The heart of the movie seeing Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson snipe at each other in boundary-pushing social situations, with the added bonus of seeing Dave grow a spine. But in spite of a solid comedic core, Anger Management’s story is hard to get a bead on. Give it a shot if you are looking for some cathartic humor, but steer clear if you are looking for a tight, coherent story.

For a more developed treatise on pent-up anger, try Fight Club. For a black comedy about a man pushed too far by his unfair, overbearing boss, try Swimming with Sharks. For an even darker war comedy about a man trapped by illogic, try Catch-22.

[6.2 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0305224/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for enjoyable humor held back by an unclear story.

Today’s quick review: That’s My Boy. In junior high, Donny Berger (Adam Sandler) became a national celebrity when he got his teacher pregnant. Now Donny is a washed-up partier who has just one weekend to pay his debt to the IRS or go to jail. Looking for a quick buck, Donny crashes the wedding of his rich, estranged son Todd (Andy Samberg). But as the weekend goes on, Donny finds himself bonding with Todd in a way he never did before.

That’s My Boy is a raunchy comedy starring Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg as a dysfunctional father-son duo. Donny was a teenage sensation who never grew up. Todd is a successful hedge fund manager who has done everything possible to distance himself from his father. That’s My Boy reunites the two after years apart, watching the sparks fly as Donny tries to spice up Todd’s wedding and Todd tries to hide the fact that Donny is his father.

That’s My Boy goes all-in on the pairing of Sandler and Samberg. Most of the jokes come from the antics of Donny and his friends, while Todd serves as a springboard thanks to his awkward, shy personality. To the movie’s credit, the actors are well-matched, and their rapport grows as the movie goes on. But the humor itself can be overwhelming, an avalanche of ribald jokes that many viewers will not find funny or tasteful.

As for its story, That’s My Boy has what it needs and not much else. The premise of a hard-partying father reconciling with his uptight son works well enough. Other plot elements, such as Donny’s childhood tryst with his teacher or his race to pay his back taxes, come across as contrived. Ultimately, That’s My Boy is structured around finding things for Donny and Todd to do together, no matter how random or outrageous.

Your enjoyment of That’s My Boy will depend heavily on your comedic preferences. Viewers with a taste for crude jokes, rampant sexual references, and drunken revelry will feel right at home with That’s My Boy. Viewers with a more delicate palette will find the movie difficult to get through, as it puts its off-color humor ahead of story and character. Only give it a shot if you are willing to take a gamble.

For a more tactful comedy with some of the same attitude, check out Wedding Crashers. For a crude comedy with a similar sense of humor and similar flaws, try Game Over, Man!. For another comedy about a partier cutting loose, try Get Him to the Greek.

[5.5 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1232200/). I give it a 6.0 for raunchy, hit-or-miss comedy within an eclectic plot.

Today’s quick review: Jack and Jill. Jack Sadelstein (Adam Sandler), an ad director going through a stressful time in his career, faces domestic turmoil when his annoying twin sister Jill (Adam Sandler) comes to stay over for Thanksgiving. While Jack tries to keep his sister’s issues from overwhelming the family, he scrambles to find a way to convince Al Pacino (Al Pacino) to star in one of his commercials.

Jack and Jill is a comedy starring Adam Sandler as a pair of twins with conflicting personalities. Jack is the more normal of the two, but he has a manipulative streak and is quick to judge his sister. Meanwhile, Jill is a kind-hearted loser with a laundry list of personal problems. The movie runs on a mixture of Jill’s antics and Jack’s increasingly desperate attempts to get the attention of mega-star Al Pacino.

Unfortunately, Jack and Jill gambles big on a character who does not pay off. Jill Sadelstein is larger than life in all the wrong ways. Loud, confused, and obnoxious, Jill dominates the movie even when she is not onscreen. Most of the movie’s humor comes from taking shots at Jill and the sorry state of her life, but late in the game, the movie switches tacks and tries to make her a sympathetic character who just needs a chance.

Jill’s unlikable personality proves to be a large barrier for the movie to overcome. A potentially touching plot about two siblings learning to respect one another is undermined by Jill’s abrasiveness. The character acts like a magnet for coarse humor, another mark against her for viewers who dislike that style of comedy. Finally, even the odd Jill joke that hits the mark is likely to be hurt by Adam Sandler’s exaggerated delivery.

The rest of the movie covers the spectrum between entertaining and bizarre. Jack’s job as an advertising director in Los Angeles gives the movie an excuse to bring in celebrities to poke fun at. The most notable of these is Al Pacino, who plays himself as an egotistical actor who develops an unhealthy obsession with Jill. The celebrity jokes score a couple of deep hits, but they make the movie feel more surreal than it already is.

Jack and Jill mixes a handful of good ideas with a few questionable ones and some very dubious execution. The character of Jill Sadelstein puts the movie at a disadvantage from the very beginning, and the situation only gets less tenable as the movie tries to mix in sentimentality and pop culture humor. Some viewers will find Jill either funny or sympathetic enough to enjoy the film, but most will consider Jack and Jill a swing and a miss.

[3.3 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0810913/). I give it a 5.0 for a smattering of decent humor undermined by an unlikable lead and some odd decisions.

Today’s quick review: Murder Mystery. Nick Spitz (Adam Sandler), a New York police officer, and his wife Audrey (Jennifer Aniston) are on their way to Europe for a vacation when Charles Cavendish (Luke Evans), the nephew of billionaire Malcolm Quince (Terence Stamp), invites the couple to stay on his uncle’s yacht. But the trip takes an unexpected turn when Malcolm is murdered, leaving Nick and Audrey as the prime suspects.

Murder Mystery is a comedy mystery starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. The movie drops a pair of American tourists in the middle of a murder investigation involving a dead billionaire, a disputed will, and an extended family with plenty of motive. Murder Mystery is an affectionate send-up of the mystery genre that turns its conventions on their head. Light humor and well-matched leads make the movie a fun watch.

Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston are the bedrock of Murder Mystery. They capture the dynamic of a married couple with skill, and their arguing, teamwork, and affection for one another give the movie the energy it runs on. The pot is a winding parody of a classic murder mystery. Audrey and Nick use their knowledge of the genre to try to guess which outlandish suspect is the killer so they can clear their names and go home.

Murder Mystery accomplishes most of its goals, but it makes a few choices that will diminish the enjoyment of some viewers. The movie relies heavily on the dynamic between Nick and Audrey to drive its humor, so anyone who dislikes the way they argue, support each other, and quip their way through the investigation will have a rough time. Furthermore, the mystery itself is loosely constructed and short on clues.

Give Murder Mystery a shot when you are in the mood for something light, irreverent, and couple-centered. Murder Mystery is not as sharply written as some comedies, and its deliberately flimsy plot undermines its value as a mystery. But the combination of likable leads and whodunit parody make it an entertaining watch regardless, and anyone in a generous mood should give it a shot.

For a more sharply written comedy mystery, check out Knives Out. For a more ridiculous parody of the whodunit genre, try Murder by Death or Clue. For another adventure about an American caught up in intrigue on a European vacation, try The Tourist.

[6.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1618434/). I give it a 6.5 for irreverent comedy.

Today’s quick review: Just Go With It. Danny Maccabee (Adam Sandler), a plastic surgeon who lies about being married to sleep with women, lands in hot water when Palmer (Brooklyn Decker), the perfect girl, notices his fake wedding ring. To cover for it, Danny pretends to be going through a divorce, and he sells the lie by convincing his assistant Katherine (Jennifer Aniston) to pose as his soon-to-be-ex wife.

Just Go With It is a romantic comedy about a plastic surgeon who fakes being married to hang onto his new girlfriend. What begins as a little lie quickly grows into a series of enormous ones as Danny and Katherine are forced to fill in the details of their fictitious marriage. Along the way, they get the chance to examine their own friendship and what they really want out of life.

The heart of Just Go With It is the chemistry between Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. Their scenes together are smooth and effortless, and they perfectly capture the dynamic of old friends who know each other better than they know themselves. Their dialogue is a mixed bag, packed with odd tangents and jokes that miss the mark, but their delivery sells it, an organic back-and-forth between two people who are deeply invested in each other.

The rest of the movie is a little too silly for its own good. The mountain of lies that drive the plot are never motivated very well, and the movie resorts to outlandish characters with exaggerated gimmicks to fuel its comedy. To its credit, Just Go With It keeps a consistent tone and uses its ridiculous comedy to its advantage. But for some viewers, the antics will detract from an otherwise promising story.

Just Go With It is a fine pick when you are in the mood for a light comedy about lies and romance. The movie is not graceful with either its plot or its comedy, but its cast has good chemistry, its premise leads to some fun situations, and its jokes are entertaining for anyone who can get into the right spirit. Steer clear if you are looking for something a little more dignified.

For an Adam Sandler romantic comedy with a little more substance to it, try 50 First Dates.

[6.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1564367/). I give it a 6.5 for good chemistry and mixed humor.

Today’s quick review: 50 First Dates. Henry Roth (Adam Sandler), a man with commitment issues, changes his ways when he falls in love with Lucy (Drew Barrymore), a woman with brain damage that leaves her unable to form new memories. As Henry introduces himself to Lucy over and over again, he looks for a way to help Lucy move past her injury and make their relationship permanent.

50 First Dates is a romantic comedy about the unlikely relationship between a man and a woman who can only experience one day at a time. The movie blends Adam Sandler’s playful, sarcastic style of humor with a touching story about deep love and making a relationship work no matter the cost. 50 First Dates accomplishes some rather ambitious goals, but its unusual premise and raunchy humor will make it hit-or-miss.

50 First Dates walks a fine line with its story. Lucy’s situation is precarious, reliving the same day over and over again with the help of her father (Blake Clark) and brother (Sean Astin). Henry tries to break this cycle, introducing more permanent changes to her life and patiently helping her with her condition. His altruism gives the story the moral foundation it needs to function and paves the way for an endearing romance.

50 First Dates supplements this basic story with a grab bag of humor, romance, and drama. Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore have good chemistry that helps sell the idea of Lucy falling in love with Henry day after day. The humor skews a little crude, but it is spirited and deeply tied to Henry’s character. Finally, the dramatic side of the story does a good job of exploring Lucy’s condition and what it means for the rest of her life.

Give 50 First Dates a shot when you are willing to gamble on an unconventional story with an unconventional payoff. Not everyone will like what the movie has to offer, whether in terms of its comedy or the peculiar relationship it explores. But those who give it a chance will find a nice mix of touching moments and light comedy. Skip it if you are expecting either a polished, masterful drama or a tangle-free romance.

For a comedy about a man unable to form new memories, try Clean Slate. For an even more offbeat romance that explores memory issues and commitment, try Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. For a romantic comedy that develops similar themes with even more finesse, try Groundhog Day. For an Adam Sandler comedy with a similar blend of humor and meaning, try Click.

[6.8 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343660/). I give it a 7.0 for a love story with more to it than meets the eye.

Today’s quick review: Big Daddy. Sonny Koufax (Adam Sandler), a slacker who never takes responsibility for anything, has a change of heart when he meets Julian (Cole Sprouse and Dylan Sprouse), the illegitimate son of Sonny’s roommate Kevin (Jon Stewart). With Kevin out of the country, Sonny decides to take care of the boy himself. But when Sonny tries to adopt the boy as his own, he faces an uphill legal battle.

Big Daddy is a comedy starring Adam Sandler as an underachiever who sets out to raise a five-year-old boy. Given the chance to care for a friend’s son, Sonny Koufax applies his own lax standards and lazy work ethic to the challenge of being a father. Big Daddy aims to be a funny and heartfelt story about a man finding meaning through parenting. However, hit-or-miss humor and shaky plot logic keep it from being a complete success.

Big Daddy is at its best when Sonny and Julian are just hanging out. Adam Sandler fits the role of Sonny perfectly, a playful and sarcastic man who defies social conventions. The shortcuts he takes when raising Julian lead to some fun results, and his offbeat approach to parenting give the movie a distinct flavor of comedy. For his part, Julian makes for a young and suitably impressionable partner for Sonny’s antics.

Big Daddy is on shakier ground when it tries to be meaningful. In theory, Big Daddy has the perfect setup for a heartfelt story about a man learning to care about others. But in practice, the story is too poorly motivated to hold much water. Sonny decides to adopt Julian on a whim, and this fact undermines the movie’s later attempts to make their relationship matter. The result is a story with less heart than it wants to have.

Big Daddy is a fine pick for fans of Adam Sandler or anyone in the mood for a kid-themed comedy. Fun character interactions and a decent premise make the movie a worthwhile watch, but its emotional arc leaves something to be desired. Give it a shot if you’re looking for some light laughs. Skip it if you are looking for subtle character work or a fulfilling story.

For a heartfelt adventure about a boy getting used to his new home, try Secondhand Lions. For a more dramatic movie about an irresponsible man learning to take care of a child, try Hard Surfaces. For a stylized action comedy about a slacker picking up the pieces of his life, try Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

[6.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142342/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for decent comedy that makes a few missteps.