Member review

A $41.5 million opening weekend for a film that feeds off of solely sophomoric humour? How?

Adam Sandler.

A film built on the groundworks of such a sadistic methodology could only be salvaged by one comedic genius (well, maybe Ricky Gervais could contend). The film depicts the life of 32-year-old, Sonny Koufax, a helpless romantic living his life comfortably atop a six figure insurance settlement. When threatened by the loss of his sexual partner he sets out on a journey; a journey with a final goal of asserting his maturity and recovering his previous relationship.

He somehow redeems this relationship through the adoption of 5-year-old orphan, Julian (cue for an endless succession of jokes about peeing) and proving himself a caring father. In the midst of this storm he performs an act only acceptable by the likes of serial killers and, well, playground bullies… by that I mean he made some middle-aged guy give him his watch because he wouldn’t give Julian candy.

Calling this film a ‘beautiful disaster’ may seem a little cliche, but there can not be a description free of cliche and a horribly unoriginal oxymoron.

There, of course, are some things that bump this films rating below the holy grail (5 stars), starting with its repetitive humour. Although immaturity is bliss when Adam Sandler is casted, it can be a little off putting watching a 5-year-old and his ‘father’ peeing in doorways for ten percent of the film’s entirety.

Another problem being the horribly unrealistic depiction of fathering. Sonny often drinks with friends whilst Julian is watching, jokes about pornography, and even teaches him how to spit ketchup on the ground and suck it back up which, to be completely honest, is a skill I wish I had.

But, as with most Adam Sandler films, its reputation as a ‘timeless classic’ carries it to glory and, to this day, it holds a reputation as one of Sandler’s all time greats.