Waterboy, The (1998)

reviewed by
David Sunga


THE WATERBOY (1998)
Rating: 2.0 stars (out of 4.0)
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Key to rating system:
2.0 stars - Debatable
2.5 stars - Some people may like it
3.0 stars - I liked it
3.5 stars - I am biased in favor of the movie
4.0 stars - I felt the movie's impact personally or it stood out
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A Movie Review by David Sunga 
Directed by: Frank Coraci

Written by: Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler

Starring: Adam Sandler, Henry Winkler, Kathy Bates, Fairuza Balk

Ingredients: 31-year-old Louisiana bayou mama's boy, football

Synopsis: In HAPPY GILMORE (1996) written by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler, Adam Sandler plays a loser raised by his loving grandmother, who learns to channel his aggression into golfing prowess, and becomes an instant sensation. The subplot involved a love interest and a big important game.

In THE WATERBOY (1998) written by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler, Adam Sandler plays a loser named Bobby, raised by his loving mother, who learns to channel his aggression into football prowess, and becomes an instant sensation. The subplot involved a love interest and a big important game.

Opinion: Call it the Forrest Gump factor. Underdog Bobby Boucher has a prounounced southern accent and the formidable intelligence quotient of a box turtle, but he also possesses a kind heart and a steadfast devotion to Mama (Kathy Bates, parodying a hillbilly). Of course, Bobby the Kindhearted makes it to the big time, has a crisis of confidence, and plays a high stakes finale. Sure, THE WATERBOY is as original as ROCKY V, and annoyingly predictable, but we're suckers when it comes to rooting for the underdog till we get sick of the sequels.

Reviewed by David Sunga
November 14, 1998

Copyright © 1998 by David Sunga This review and others like it can be found at THE CRITIC ZOO: http://www.criticzoo.com email: zookeeper@criticzoo.com


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