Big Daddy (1999, DVD)

A collection of pretty funny outtakes from Adam Sandler's earlier movies, with a small child inserted through the magic of CGI. I was especially impressed with the way they made these edited pieces seem like an actual plot narrative, although you can see a few points where nothing matches up at all. Big Daddy is all premise, and no plot.

Yes, I think Adam Sandler is quite funny. No, I'm not a self-proclaimed comedy purist who only thinks an actor's first three movies are always his best. It's just that Big Daddy seems like an outline for a vehicle that they had to use because the kid puked on the actual script. Adam gets kid, Adam does hijinks, random stoner buddies of Adam (Buscemi, Schneider) show up for alleged wackiness, kid turns on the puppy-face, every female in the audience turns to goo, Adam makes another $100 million.

Now, I realize two things: 1) Adam Sandler has never claimed to be Olivier, and 2) nobody expects him to make art films. His brand of humor can be extremely effective, but not when the whole production seems so forced and uninspired. Adam Sandler just seems to be content with the same 6 jokes he always uses. (Yeah, that deep silly voice is still paying the rent apparently.)

The plot concerns a likable loser adopting an adorable little kid. The jokes mostly touch on how this guys is perhaps the worst person in the world to be a parent. I loved the thought of what an all-ketchup diet would do to the feces I'd be cleaning off my apartment walls in 2 hours, for example. Seriously, if there's a bodily function this kid didn't display, please do NOT enlighten me as to what it might be. Put some semen in his hair (or in his beer), and he's a poster child for the ideals of the modern American comedy: He already has snot, spit, poop, puke, and pee covered.

Here's the deal: If you laugh hysterically at Sandler's antics, as I often do, you will obviously love (or at least enjoy) this one. If you don't like him, there s no reason to ever see this one. I'll be looking forward to his next efforts. Maybe he'll stretch a little, and yell again in that deep funny voice and make jokes about boogers.

The dumb goofy guy of Billy Madison times the sweet goofy guy from The Wedding Singer minus the violent goofy guy from Happy Gilmore plus two cute twins forced into a life of bondage by a major film studio equals Big Daddy, only dumber.