BIG DADDY (PG). (Columbia Tristar) Director: Dennis Dugan Stars: Adam Sandler, Joey Lauren Adams, Jon Stewart, Allen Covert, Rob Scneider, Kristy Swanson, Joe Bologna, Josh Mostel, Leslie Mann, Cole and Dylan Sprouse, Steve Buscemi, Peter Dante, Jonathan Loughran Running time: 95 minutes.
Many local reviewers have already unfairly dismissed this film before they have even seen it - purely because they dislike its star Adam Sandler. However, there are many people out there who seem to like Sandler's deliberately low brow, dumb brand of humour, and ultimately they will judge this film on its merits.
The romantic comedy The Wedding Singer showed a slightly different side to Sandler's talents, and appealed to a broader audience. While Big Daddy is not quite as enjoyable, it is still one of Sandler's more genial and pleasing efforts, and should also prove a big hit.
Sandler often plays the petulant, eternal adolescent who is eventually forced to grow up and face up to his responsibilities. Big Daddy takes this familiar premise, but adds a cute kid and some emotional punch to the trusty formula. Sandler plays Sonny Kouvacs, a law school graduate who prefers the easy life, living off a compensation deal from an old accident. His girl friend Vanessa (Kristy Swanson) despairs of him ever making a serious commitment to their relationship. When an accident of fate temporarily leaves Sonny in charge of five year old Julian (newcomers Cole and Dylan Sprouse), he finally sees fatherhood as a way of taking the next step in his life.
However, Vanessa has dumped him for an older man, leaving Sonny to raise the child alone. Although initially reluctant to take on any sort of responsibility, he gradually finds himself warming to the boy, and a relationship develops between the pair. Sonny finds that Julian's presence helps in establishing a meaningful relationship with beautiful lawyer Layla (Joey Lauren Adams, from Chasing Amy, etc), who happens to be the sister-in-law of his former room mate. Sonny is eventually forced to take the final step into long postponed adulthood when he has to step into a courtroom to fight for his right to adopt Julian.
Big Daddy has been written by Steve Franks, but Sandler and regular collaborator Tim Herlihy have tailored the material to suit the star's screen persona. There are no great surprises here, as Big Daddy is fairly formulaic stuff. There are plenty of jokes about urination, vomiting and other bodily functions, but it is all handled with surprising restraint given the nature of the material.
Dennis Dugan, who previously directed Sandler in Happy Gilmore, seems to know how to get the best out of his star. He draws a more restrained and thoughtful performance from Sandler. The Sprouse twins add to the cuteness factor with their irresistible, hugely endearing turn as Sonny's foster son, and they will play a major in the film's success. Steve Buscemi is wonderfully droll in a small role as a homeless derelict.
Big Daddy is often very funny. But it also has enough heart to appeal to audiences not usually drawn to Sandler's childish and often puerile sense of humour.
*** greg king http://www.netau.com.au/gregking
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