Big Daddy (Big Daddy (DVD))

Member Name: mattydalton

Product:	Big Daddy (DVD)
Date:	12/03/04 (1130 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Adam Sandler

Disadvantages: -

THE STARS

Adam Sandler

Born on the 9th September 1966 in Brooklyn, he later graduated from the New York University. He has co-wrote and starred in several films to date including Happy Gilmore, Billy Madison and The Waterboy.

Joey Lauren Adams

Born on the 6th January 1971. In 1997 she was a Golden Globe Award nominee for Best Actress for her part in Chasing Amy, and actually won the award for most promising actress from the Chicago Film Critics Association.

Jon Stewart

Born on the 28th November 1962 in Trenton, New Jersey. His full name is actually Jonathan Stewart Leibowitz. It?s not hard to see why he shortened it. He has been in several other films including Mixed Nuts (1994), Playing By Heart (1998), The Faculty (1998) and Half Baked (1998)

Rob Schneider

Born on the 31st October 1963 in San Francisco. His first television appearance was on The Late Show With David Letterman in 1987. He did the screenplay for the film Deuce in 1999, a film he also featured in. Other films you may have seen him in include Home Alone 2 (1992), Beverley Hillbillies (1993) and Judge Dredd (1995). Along with his acting abilities, he is also able to do almost 50 impressions and voices.

Cole and Dylan Sprouse

Twins born on 4th August 1992 in Arezzo, Italy. Dylan is the elder, by 15 minutes. Despite their young age they have quite a bit of acting experience under their belts already. They have appeared in Grace Under Fire (1993-98) aswell as appearing in The Astronaut?s Wife. I vaguely remember seeing one of them in Friends, playing Ross? son in an episode where Rachel was teaching him a load of tricks.

Leslie Mann

Born in 1972 in San Francisco, Leslie has been in many films. Her screen debut was in Virgin High (1991) and she followed this up with roles in Things I Never Told You (1996), Cable Guy (1996), She?s The One (1996), Last Man Standing (1996) and George Of The Jungle (1997
).

Kristy Swanson

Born on the 19th December 1969 in Mission Viego, Kristy appeared in television commercials from the age of 9. Her first lead was in Deadly Friend (1986). Other films include Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1992), Higher Learning (1995), Marshall Law (1996), Tinsletown (1997) and 8 Heads In A Duffel Bag (1997).

Dennis Dugan (The Director)

Born on the 5th September in Wheaton, Illinois, Dennis is an actor turned director. He has directed several television series including Ally McBeal, Chicago Hope and NYPD Blue. As a film director he has directed Problem Child (1990), Brain Donors (1992), Happy Gilmore (1996), Beverley Hills Ninja (1997), Clockstoppers (1999) and much more.

THE CAST

Sonny Koufax

Sonny, played by Adam Sandler, is the boy who never grew up. He has little grasp of responsibility and just wants to enjoy life. 2 years before this film starts he had his foot run over by a taxi and was awarded $200,000 in damages (a bit extreme, I know, but this is a film that is not meant to be taken seriously). He invested in the stock market and, somehow, did pretty well out of it. To help pass the time of day he works one day a week in a toll booth.

Vanessa

Vanessa, played by Kristy Swanson, is Sonny?s girlfriend. She wants to settle down with Sonny and is sick of his antics.

Kevin Gerrity

Kevin, played by Jon Stewart, is Sonny?s room mate. He is the opposite of Sonny - a serious, hard working man who has done well for himself in this way. He is a business partner in a pretty successful company and is just about to leave for Japan for a while.

Corinne Maloney

Corinne, played by Leslie Mann, is Kevin?s girlfriend. She is a doctor who once worked at Hooter?s. Corinne and Sonny have an oxymoronical relationship - I think they care deep down but they are constantly bickering and teasing each other.

Layla Maloney

Layla, played by
Joey Lauren Adams, is Corinne?s sister. She is a successful lawyer who, we learn through the course of the film, doesn?t want to end up helpless like her mother so works hard at what she does. Her father left her mother and her mother had no way of earning decent money. Layla never wants to rely on a man. Despite this, she is still a very caring person.

The Delivery Guy

Played by Rob Schneider, the delivery guy is Sonn?y best friend. His status in the country is ?not exactly legal?. He regularly drops by to see Sonny when he is out on a bogus call and he will share whatever he has with Sonny. He is not the most intelligent of people and cannot read or write.

The Tramp

Played by Steve Buscemi, the tramp is a source of constant comedy with his one liners and crazy antics.

Mr Harley

Mr Harley is an old guy who regularly drinks. In fact, he drinks too regularly.

THE PLOT

The film starts with Sonny receiving a phone call from his father giving him a hard time about the way he chooses to live his life. His father is sick of him being irresponsible and wants him to use some of the money he was awarded to sit his bar exam and become a lawyer. Sonny wants the exact opposite - to carry on living like he is still a student. During the course of the phone call his girlfriend wakes up, miffed at Sonny letting him sleep again when she has brunch arranged with a potential client.

A humorous exchange ensues between the two where Vanessa tells Sonny she wants to settle down and think about a family. She is also sick of Sonny?s childish behaviour and a brief argument comes about. There are some very funny moments here, with Sonny delivering some funny sarcastic one liners. She tells him she has decided to go and spend a few days at her mother?s in Syracuse to give him some time to think about what he wants and whether or not he can learn to be responsible.

On arrival home from his one day a wee
k job, Sonny is greeted by a surprise intended for his flatmate, Kevin. A few moments later, Kevin walks through the door to be greeted by a somewhat less enthusiastic surprise. Corinne, Kevin?s girlfriend, is understandably a bit miffed and blames Sonny for ruining the surprise. This is typical of the relationship between Sonny and Corinne. She acts like a spoilt kid towards him and he retaliates with some inconsiderate and sometimes derogatory comments. I think they work very well together in this role.

We learn in this scene that Kevin is going away to Japan the next day for a while on a business trip. The following morning there is a knock at the door. Sonny answers it to be greeted by a teenager and delivering the cutest little kid, Julian, with a letter addressed to Kevin. The letter says that Julian is Kevin?s son and that he will have to take care of him as she is dying. Sonny phones Kevin only for Kevin to think that Sonny is playing a trick on him. Sonny tells him he is telling the truth and, as Kevin doesn?t know where Julian has come from, he will take him to Social Services.

Sonny calls Social Services only to find they are closed for the day so he is forced to take care of him for the day. Julian is a bit reserved and, understandably, confused. Sonny treats him just like he would treat one of his friends and Julian is somewhat dumbstruck by him. Anyway, they have so much fun that Sonny is still chatting to Julian in the early hours of the morning. The next day, Sonny decides to keep Julian and phones Social Services to tell them of this. During the call, he pretends to be Kevin and tells them to cancel the foster family they have arranged for Julian. His friends are a bit worried about the whole matter.

Sonny ignores all the opposition he encounters and thinks it is a great idea. Again, they have a fun day and Sonny starts to think all this parenthood stuff is easy. The next morning, it is a very different story. Sonny wakes
up to see that Julian has wet the bed. He decides to take him to McDonald?s for breakfast. Julian?s true personality starts to become apparent here. Along the way they come across a tramp, played by Steve Buscemi. Despite being in a rush, Julian feels the need to ask the tramp ?why? constantly.

Once in McDonald?s Julian has a bit of a tantrum and Sonny struggles to deal with it. He then has to carry Julian home, who pees on his top while asleep. The penny has dropped for Sonny - kids are hard work. That afternoon, Julian throws up on the floor and Sonny realises he hasn?t got a clue how to look after him. He decides to take him to see Vanessa, as she?ll know what to do. Once again, Sonny has demonstrated his irresponsibility.

Upon arrival at Vanessa?s, Sonny is in for a shock. Rather than be happy at Sonny?s decision to adopt a child to try and mend the relationship, she is appalled. Sonny then discovers she is dumping him for an older man, Sid. This older man is actually in his 50?s and again emphasises how Sonny makes stupid decisions. Understandably, Sonny is a bit traumatised by this. He realises that he can?t care for Julian and decides to return him to Social Services.

There?s just one problem here, though. The foster family has been cancelled and Julian will have to go to a group home, or an orphanage as Sonny sees it, until a new family is found for him. Sonny, although he knows he is struggling, doesn?t want this and arranges for him to keep Julian until a new family is found for him. Again, Sonny pretends to be Kevin here in order to keep hold of Julian.

Sonny, resigned to fatherhood for the foreseeable future, decides to take a different approach to raising Julian. Instead of making loads of rules like his father did, Sonny tells Julian he can do whatever he wants. It doesn?t take long for him to realise that this is the wrong way to bring up a child and, after being advised by Julian?s teacher, decides to raise him th
e ?right? way.

Sonny really begins to become attached to Julian and enjoys raising him so much that when Social Services call to say they have a foster family arranged for Julian, he ignores all the messages. Sonny wants to keep Julian as they have formed a good bond and enjoy spending time together. On one visit to the park Sonny uses Julian to help him pull a girl by saying he is lost - initiating conversation is half the battle. This girl turns out to be Layla, Corinne?s sister. She is reluctant to start a relationship but agrees to see Sonny that night.

Anyway, I feel I may be in danger of spoiling the prospect of watching the film if I go any further. All I will say is that Sonny, Julian and Layla all become closer as Social Services begin to close in on Sonny. They eventually discover who Sonny really is and take Julian off him. He decides to fight the authorities in a bid to become Julian?s father. Will he be allowed? Well, I?m not saying, you?ll just have to watch to find out for yourself.

SOME FUNNY LINES

SONNY: I got those medical problems.
VANESSA: Medical problems? A cab runs over your foot and you spend one night in hospital.
SONNY: First of all that cab was huge, and a jury decided one night of pain was worth $200,000 so there you go!

VANESSA: I need somebody I can rely on, not just a playmate.
SONNY: What, do you need a father figure? (Shouts) Stop pulling your sister?s hair!

SONNY: You?re not proposing, are you?
KEVIN: Well, yeah pal, I am.
SONNY: Well think about it, y?know.

DELIVERY GUY: I had a doll like that one time but my cat, he bite his head off.
JULIAN: What kinda cat would do that?
DELIVERY GUY: (Angrily) Are you calling me a liar?

JULIAN: Sonny, can I have a night light?
SONNY: A night light, hold on.
Sonny dutifully brings Julian a night light he has acquired from a strip bar - a neon sign shaped like an arrow with the words LIVE N
UDES lit brightly.

VANESSA (about Sid, her new bloke who happens to be about 60): He has a 5 year plan.
SONNY: What is it? Don?t die?

SONNY: What do you want?
JULIAN: 30 packets of ketchup.

CORINNE: What?s this I hear about you doing laundry with my sister?
SONNY: Did she say we were doing laundry, cos where I come from they call it doing the hibbity-dibbity.

JULIAN (prompted by Sonny to help him get a date): Layla, if you don?t come over to Sonny?s apartment tonight there?s a good chance I will develop a stutter. P?p?.p?please don?t do this to me.


SUMMARY

Like many of Adam Sandler?s other films, this is a really funny experience. From start to finish there are many funny moments. The story is very easy to follow and is suitable for all people over 12, so the rating says. I reckon it would be ok for some younger kids depending on their maturity level.

RUNNING TIME: 89 minutes

Summary: