Big Daddy is a 1999 Dennis Dugan comedy film starring Adam Sandler, Dylan and Cole Sprouse, Joey Lauren Adams, Jon Stewart, Josh Mostel, Leslie Mann, Rob Schneider, Kristy Swanson, Joseph Bologna, Allen Covert and Peter Dante. Centering on the importance of fathers, this film tells the story of the carefree slob Sonny Koufax (Adam Sandler) who suddenly becomes the foster father of his roommate’s illegitimate son.
Sonny Koufax is a lazy good-for-nothing who graduated with a degree in law but chose not to pursue a career in it. He instead leads an irresponsible lifestyle, working once a week as a toll booth attendant while his other friends are moving ahead with their lives. But his perspective suddenly changes when he is left to care for his roommate’s illegitimate son while the latter is away on a business trip in China.
With its slapstick humor common in all Adam Sandler films,
Big Daddy gained the viewers’ approval and bagged several awards including the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards for Favorite Actor (Adam Sandler), the Kids’ Choice Awards for Favorite Movie and Favorite Movie Actor categories, MTV Movie Awards for Best Comedic Performance, and the People’s Choice Awards for Favorite Comedy Motion Picture, and the Teen Choice Awards for Film-Movie of the Summer category.
But despite its numerous film recognitions,
Big Daddy received mixed critical reviews from movie critics. Hal Hinson of
Dallas Observer described the film as “hilarious, dumb comedy that's smart enough to be something more” and further called Adam Sandler as “the most soulful -- and the funniest -- comic in the business.”
Chicago Reader also commended Sandler for effortlessly playing the character of Sonny. Manohla Dargis of
LA Weekly even wrote, “Sander has turned mediocrity into the triumph of the smug.” However, according to Edward Gutham of
San Francisco Chronicle, the film was “nasty to women, cruel to old people and tosses in a cardboard gay couple for gratuitous laughs,” while Desson Thomson of
Washington Post used the words “Dismal. Lame. Not funny” in describing the film.
-Katherine Garcia, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image Courtesy of Jack Giarraputo Productions)