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Parents' Guide to

That's My Boy

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Raunchy, juvenile humor will offend many, amuse very few.

Movie R 2012 116 minutes
That's My Boy Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 17+

Based on 17 parent reviews

age 13+

Classic Dirty Comedy

There came a point in time where it became taboo to make a fun, dirty, crass comedy. Movies like Police Academy, Animal House, and Bachelor Party could not be made in todays PC climate. That's My Boy was Adam Sandler's attempt to resuscitate the dirty comedy genre. Critics hate Sandler because he openly mocks their Social Justice Warrior cause. I thought this movie was fun, funny, and highly entertaining. Long live Mr Sandler.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
age 18+

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (17 ):
Kids say (38 ):

Sandler is turning into another Eddie Murphy: He makes terrible movies because he seems to not care as long as he's having fun and getting a huge paycheck. Never mind that this movie seems conceived by hormonal middle-school boys hot for their teacher. Perhaps Sandler thinks no one cares if he once again plays an over-sexed "lovable loser" who can somehow bed any woman in his immediate vicinity. Maybe some audiences (especially males under the age of 21) will enjoy the fat jokes and constant references to schlongs and sexual positions and bodily fluids -- not to mention sexual abuse and incest. It's just in good fun, he must justify; besides brothers and sisters have sex on Game of Thrones!

But, really, you'd be better off renting or streaming Sandler's greatest hits than watching this puerile exercise in ridiculing the Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau story. Who knew that an older teacher who seduces and then gets pregnant by her 13-year-old student could spawn an entire movie not broadcast on the Lifetime Channel? Apparently Sandler did, or at least his director and screenwriter pals. Sandler is (or maybe "was") a talented comedian, but this raunchy-as-he-wants-to-be formula isn't working at all. The only redeeming parts: Susan Sarandon as the aged imprisoned teacher (the younger version is played by her own daughter, Amurri); James Caan as a boxer-turned-priest with a temper; and Saturday Night Live alums Will Forte and Rachel Dratch. But the cameos still aren't worth the price of admission.

Movie Details

  • In theaters: June 15, 2012
  • On DVD or streaming: October 16, 2012
  • Cast: Adam Sandler , Andy Samberg , Leighton Meester
  • Director: Sean Anders
  • Inclusion Information: Female actors
  • Studio: Columbia Pictures
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Run time: 116 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: crude sexual content throughout, nudity, pervasive language and some drug use
  • Last updated: February 9, 2023

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