Big Daddy (PG-13)

Typical Adam Sandler -- loads of sex jokes.

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Common Sense rates it
3
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Columbia Tristar
  • Directed By: Dennis Dugan
  • Cast: Adam Sandler
  • Release Date: 06/25/1999
  • Genre: Comedy
  • MPAA Rating: PG-13
  • MPAA Explanation: language, sexual references, and potty humor

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that there are a number of sexual references -- some quite vivid -- and a range of the usual PG-13 naughty words and potty humor.

Families can talk about the appeal of silly comedies like this one. Where is the line between funny and offensive?

Message

Social Behavior:

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

A few tussles

Sex

Some vivid references.

Language

Strong language.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Nell Minow

BIG DADDY centers on Sonny Koufax (Adam Sandler), a shiftless young man who is wasting his life, much to the chagrin of his parents, friends, and girlfriend. One day, 5 year old Julian (played by twins Cole and Dylan Sprouse) is abandoned on his doorstep through a mix up. Rather than place the boy in an orphanage, Koufax agrees to take care of him for a few days, thinking it will help him win back his ex-girlfriend. At first the two have fun behaving irresponsibly together, but gradually Koufax comes to love the boy and realizes that he wants to keep him. He also realizes that if he wants to keep Julian, he will have to begin to accept some responsibility. He sees the consequences of his slacker lifestyle in the influence he has on the child, and in the risk he runs of losing him. Koufax fights the Department of Social services in court when they come to take the boy back.

Is it any good?

3
Big Daddy has all the unavoidable elements of an Adam Sandler film: slapstick humor, gross jokes, bodily functions galore, spectacular pratfalls and more than a sprinkling of sexual innuendo. Yet, it is a welcome return to the sweetness and heart of The Wedding Singer after the numbing dopiness of The Waterboy, and the tasteless portions (about 90 percent) are played in such a broad and obvious way that there is little risk that teens will mistake this for acceptable behavior.

This is not a profound movie, but adolescents (and those with adolescent humor) will enjoy it. Sandler has a light enough touch that the movie does not become sentimental or lose its sense of humor by adding some heart to the characters. Like the character he plays, Sandler is beginning to learn that you can be responsible and funny at the same time.

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 10 reviews.

4


Posted on 07/03/08 by moviecritic Kid contributor, age 15

Great Ending

Most parents won't like this movie because of the constant language. But what ever you do don't stop watching it. The movie starts out rough, but the ending is great. Please trust me. There are some strong sexual refrences so if your child is under 13 I would not let them watch this. But 13 and up is okay.
4


Posted on 01/31/08 by andrew1216 Kid contributor, age 10

i liked

i liked it funny gross it has every thing
4


Posted on 01/03/08 by andreww Adult contributor
5

Posted on 10/06/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

13 and older

Good! A bit lewd though but not much.
4


Posted on 09/28/07 by quest13 Adult contributor

funny

I walked out of the theater wanting to be better father o I guess it's a good thing!
3


Posted on 09/13/07 by swimmergurlgh07 Kid contributor, age 12
2


Posted on 12/20/06 by averyt_m Adult contributor

This is not a kids' movie

Somehow people think Adam Sandler makes kids' movies. He doesn't - they just happen to have kids in them sometimes. Sadly, that may draw families to this movie when it is very inappropriate for the under 13 crowd. The language, sexual innuendo and use of violence to solve problems was way more intense than you'd expect from a movie featuring a 5-year-old character. There were good messages about responsibility and what it takes to be a "real" parent. However, the view of social services, fostering, birth parents and adoption was problematic. These are deep topics and need to be discussed with anyone who watches the movie. Would Julian really have been dropped at the doorstep? Would there have been no follow-up from social services? Would Sandler have been threatened with arrest? Would a child that young have been made to testify in open court? No. Sandler always has a appealing persona that overcomes the gutter-talk and humor. I wish he'd do something that made the most of his appeal in a cleaner or more serious way.
4


Posted on 06/27/06 by G Kid contributor, age 12
2


Posted on 06/20/06 by moviemogul 2.0; also fomerly moviemogul Kid contributor, age 15

Not as bad as Waterboy or Billy Madison, but still really bad

I'm sorry, but this movie was not really good. Sandler is probably one of the only A movie actor to only have one three star movie and the majority of the rest one star (not according to CSM). If you see adam Sandler in a movie, avoid it.
5


Posted on 01/13/04 by Forknose Kid contributor, age 15

The Best Adam Sandler Movie

This is a very good movie. It has a lot of comedy, but it also has a meaningful side. Adam Sandler portrays a slob who gets a kid. Overall the movie was unbelievably good.

See all 10 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 4 reviews.

4


Posted on 01/03/08 by andreww Adult contributor
5

Posted on 10/06/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

13 and older

Good! A bit lewd though but not much.
4


Posted on 09/28/07 by quest13 Adult contributor

funny

I walked out of the theater wanting to be better father o I guess it's a good thing!
2


Posted on 12/20/06 by averyt_m Adult contributor

This is not a kids' movie

Somehow people think Adam Sandler makes kids' movies. He doesn't - they just happen to have kids in them sometimes. Sadly, that may draw families to this movie when it is very inappropriate for the under 13 crowd. The language, sexual innuendo and use of violence to solve problems was way more intense than you'd expect from a movie featuring a 5-year-old character. There were good messages about responsibility and what it takes to be a "real" parent. However, the view of social services, fostering, birth parents and adoption was problematic. These are deep topics and need to be discussed with anyone who watches the movie. Would Julian really have been dropped at the doorstep? Would there have been no follow-up from social services? Would Sandler have been threatened with arrest? Would a child that young have been made to testify in open court? No. Sandler always has a appealing persona that overcomes the gutter-talk and humor. I wish he'd do something that made the most of his appeal in a cleaner or more serious way.

Kids Reviews

There are 6 reviews.

4


Posted on 07/03/08 by moviecritic Kid contributor, age 15

Great Ending

Most parents won't like this movie because of the constant language. But what ever you do don't stop watching it. The movie starts out rough, but the ending is great. Please trust me. There are some strong sexual refrences so if your child is under 13 I would not let them watch this. But 13 and up is okay.
4


Posted on 01/31/08 by andrew1216 Kid contributor, age 10

i liked

i liked it funny gross it has every thing
3


Posted on 09/13/07 by swimmergurlgh07 Kid contributor, age 12
4


Posted on 06/27/06 by G Kid contributor, age 12
2


Posted on 06/20/06 by moviemogul 2.0; also fomerly moviemogul Kid contributor, age 15

Not as bad as Waterboy or Billy Madison, but still really bad

I'm sorry, but this movie was not really good. Sandler is probably one of the only A movie actor to only have one three star movie and the majority of the rest one star (not according to CSM). If you see adam Sandler in a movie, avoid it.
5


Posted on 01/13/04 by Forknose Kid contributor, age 15

The Best Adam Sandler Movie

This is a very good movie. It has a lot of comedy, but it also has a meaningful side. Adam Sandler portrays a slob who gets a kid. Overall the movie was unbelievably good.
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