Big Daddy (1999) Adam Sandler, Joey Lauren Adams, Cole Sprouse, Dylan Sprouse, Rob Schneider, Jon Stewart, Josh Mostel, Leslie Mann, Allen Covert, Steve Buscemi, Kristy Swanson, Joe Bologna, Peter Dante, Jonathan Loughran. Story by Steve Franks. Screenplay by Steve Franks and Tim Herlihy & Adam Sandler. Directed by Dennis Dugan. 91 minutes. Rated PG-13, 3 stars (out of five stars)
Review by Ed Johnson-Ott, NUVO Newsweekly www.nuvo-online.com Archive reviews at http://us.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Edward+Johnson-ott To receive reviews by e-mail at no charge, send subscription requests to pbbp24a@prodigy.com
"Big Daddy" is crude and obvious, sloppy and mawkish, contrived and clumsily manipulative, and yet it still works. I went back for a second screening of the film, curious to see if it would charm me as much as the first time, and the damn thing did. The Adam Sandler comedy contains a laundry list of elements I find annoying -- standard-issue pratfalls and body function gags, sentimentality utterly lacking in finesse and even that most tiresome of clichés, the climactic courtroom scene -- but despite all the rubbish, there is something special going on here, something genuinely good-hearted and even brave, that made me surrender to "Big Daddy."
The premise is sheer hokum. When a little kid is left on his doorstep, 32 year-old slacker Sonny Koufax (Sandler) "adopts" the boy, hoping to prove to his girlfriend that he's a responsible adult. She dumps him anyway and Sonny grudgingly tries to take care of the child until Social Services can find him a home. You can guess the rest.
On the surface, the film appears merely a calculated attempt to satisfy long-time Sandler fans with his usual combination of infantile humor and bursts of rage, while using the warm and fuzzy plot to nurture the mainstream viewers he gained with "The Wedding Singer." But there's more going on here than meets the eye. Quietly and oh-so carefully, Adam Sandler is challenging his own core audience, the army of young males crucial to the success of "Billy Madison," "Happy Gilmore" and "The Waterboy."
Outside of right-wing Christian extremists, young males are possibly the most homophobic people in America, yet "Big Daddy" includes an accepting portrayal of an affectionate gay male couple. The men, two of Sonny's old college buddies, behave like any romantic pair, sharing loving glances, cuddling and exchanging goodbye kisses. When another of Sonny's pals expresses discomfort with the guys' evolution from fellow frat-brothers to lovers, Sonny casually dismisses him, saying "They're still our brothers... our very, very gay brothers." Any jokes about the couple come not from their sexual orientation, but from the flustered reactions of others to their sexual orientation. Pretty nervy for an Adam Sandler movie.
But wait, there's more. Young males are also known for macho posturing, with their displays of bravado masking a fear of strong women, their own emotions, and the prospect of adulthood, aging and responsibility in general. "Big Daddy" features sisters Layla (Joey Lauren Adams) and Corinne (Leslie Mann), two extremely assured young woman. Layla, a hotshot lawyer, is clearly infatuated by Sonny, but sets her own boundaries and refuses to let him overwhelm her. Corinne is a doctor who was once a "Hooters" girl, a fact Sonny never lets her forget, but she never buckles despite his nonstop stream of insults (something else to consider -- here, Sandler mocks Corinne because she once worked at "Hooters" -- in his previous films, his characters would have worshipped her for that).
Sonny comes to grips with his emotions over the course of the story, gradually tempering his anger outbursts, freely expressing his love for his young ward and even making a heartfelt reconciliation speech to his father (that leads to one of the funniest scenes in the movie). He makes repeated references to his thickening waistline (although he actually looks quite fit) and other aspects of aging and, after many hapless attempts at indulgent childrearing, comes to accept and embrace the responsibilities of adulthood.
It's as if Sandler is gently telling his core audience, "Hey guys, it's okay to grow up. Confident women, parenthood, emotions and the whole aging thing aren't so scary, and by the way, picking on gay people is just plain stupid." As I said before, these are pretty daring notions for a fan base that considers fart jokes high art.
Of course, this is all subtext in a film that is sloppily constructed, to say the least, but it speaks volumes about the production's disarming sense of good will. Adding to the appeal is the sweet relationship between Sonny and five-year-old Julian (played by twins Cole and Dylan Sprouse) and the winning performance by "Chasing Amy's" radiant Joey Lauren Adams, who makes the most of her limited screen time.
As for the rest of the cast, Rob Schneider is fun as an immigrant delivery man grappling with the English language and Steve Buscemi has a few good lines as a homeless man. Jon Stewart, playing Sonny's roommate, is sadly underused and Josh Mostel merely annoys as an ex-hippie turned priggish social worker.
Despite its flaws, its many, many flaws, "Big Daddy" is a satisfying offering. In this cynical age, it's refreshing to see a movie that celebrates love, maturity and acceptance of others. Hopefully, as Adam Sandler continues to grow, both as an actor and a filmmaker, it will become easier to praise his work without having to add so many qualifying statements.
© 1999 Ed Johnson-Ott
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