The Waterboy

  • Review Date: May 10, 2003
  • PG-13
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 1998
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Really dumb, but many teens love it anyway.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie has locker-room style bad language and mild sexual references.


What's the story?

THE WATERBOY stars Adam Sandler as Bobby Boucher, a 31-year-old man who lives with his mother and cares only about providing the freshest, most delicious water for the football team. Fired by the coach (Jerry Reed), he volunteers to be the unpaid waterboy for a team that hasn't won a game in four years. Although his mother has raised him to avoid all relationships and he hates confrontation, it turns out that when he gets angry he can tackle a Mack truck. So, he becomes a football star, gets the girl (Fairuza Balk as a tattooed felon, but a loveable one), and teaches his mother and himself that he can be more independent.


Is it any good?

 

If you've seen the coming attraction and you still want to see this movie, then you are probably between the ages of 12 and 16 and will probably recognize all of the "played by themselves" sports stars who make cameos.

Sandler uses an especially annoying voice throughout and there isn't much energy in the script or performances. I cannot recommend it, but recognize that many adolescents will enjoy it, if only to be able to trade the punchlines with their friends.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about what makes Sandler's type of humor so popular.


This review was written by Nell Minow
Kid, 13 years old
April 9, 2008
 

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 17 years old
May 20, 2010
 
Waterboy
This movie is pretty dumb, I won't lie. But some of the movie is so dumb that it is very funny. There is one f bomb and other language. And a female character shows Adam Sandler her breasts. This isn't shown though.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 15 years old
April 9, 2008
 

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 13 years old
November 14, 2010
 
Ben Franklin? I Invented Comedy! Now This Is A True Comedy!
Let me begin by saying that I do not always laugh out loud to movies. I rolled on the floor for this one! Bobby Bouche is a persistant fellow who starts out as the waterboy, and makes his way up to football sensation! I must say, the descrition of the film did not catch my eye, (I'm not a real football fan) but when I watched it, I could not stop laughing! There are scenes that I would not reccomend for younger kids, like when the love interest shows her, eh, front, to Bobby. Her front is not shown onscreen though! You can only see her back. Still there is also a lot of swearing in this movie. I would reccomend it to anyone who needs a laugh.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
October 3, 2010
 
pretty funny,pretty dumb and pretty PG-13.

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 13 years old
July 11, 2010
 
High Quality H2O!
This is a funny movie about a kid who just wants to be himself but his "mama" won't let him. So he decides to be himself behind her back. Language and a brief sexual situation.

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
January 24, 2010
 
Not for younger viewers
Great movie but the language is terrible. There are most differently several words I wouldn't want my kids hearing.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Waste of Film
'How to be a bully' given to teenagers is a bad idea. This movie is funny if you have already graduated from jr. high

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 
ADAM SANDLER ROCKS!

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 18 years old
February 27, 2011
 
AWESOME MOVIE
One of the best movies ive ever seen. Its funny, and my entire family loves it.

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Nell Minow
Studio:Touchstone Pictures
Director:Frank Coraci
Cast:Adam Sandler, Fairuza Balk, Kathy Bates
Genre:Comedy
Run time:90 minutes
Theatrical release date:November 6, 1998
DVD release date:March 16, 1999
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:language and some crude sexual humor

This review was written by Nell Minow
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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