Big Daddy *** (1999, Adam Sandler, Joey Lauren Adams, Jon Stewart, Cole Sprouse, Dylan Sprouse, Josh Mostel, Leslie Mann, Rob Schneider, Kristy Swanson, Joseph Bologna) – Classic Movie Review 3375

Adam Sandler plays 32-year-old slacker-genius Sonny Koufax, in Columbia Tri-Star’s hugely popular 1999 comedy, directed by Dennis Dugan, with a story and screenplay by Steve Franks.

Sonny is a do-nothing law school graduate with an investment and a nice apartment in Manhattan. He has spent all his life avoiding responsibility, but goes all soft to try to adopt a five-year-old child called Julian ‘Frankenstein’ McGrath (played by the Sprouse twins, Cole and Dylan) in a desperate last-ditch effort to impress a woman. Joey Lauren Adams plays Layla Maloney, his girlfriend who has dumped him for an older man, Kevin Gerrity (Jon Stewart).

Sandler is funny and appealing in an amusing if strained and patchy comedy that has its share of good moments and bright performances.

The Sprouse brothers.

Also helping Sandler out in the first-rate comedy cast are Leslie Mann as Corinne Maloney, Rob Schneider as Nazo, Jonathan Loughran as Mike, Allen Covert as Phil D’Amato, Peter Dante as Tommy Grayton, Kristy Swanson as Vanessa, Joseph Bologna as Sonny’s Florida lawyer father Lenny Koufax, Steve Buscemi as homeless guy, Josh Mostel as Arthur Brooks, Edmund Lyndeck as Mr Herlihy, Geoffrey Horne as Sid, and David Spade as restaurant server.

It was a huge hit, taking $234.8 million, on a $34.2 million budget, Sandler’s highest-grossing film until Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015).

RIP Joseph Bologna (December 30, 1934 – August 13, 2017).

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3375

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/