Big Daddy (PG-13, 1999)

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.

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.

Studio: Columbia Tristar
Director: Dennis Dugan
Cast: Adam Sandler, Cole Sprouse, Dylan Sprouse
Genre: Comedy
Theatrical release: June 25, 1999
DVD release: November 2, 1999
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: language, sexual references, and potty humor