Billy Madison is a 1995 comedy film directed by Tamra Davis and co-written by Adam Sandler, who plays the title role, and Tim Herlihy. Produced by Universal Pictures, the film also co-stars Bradley Whitford, Josh Mostel, Bridgette Wilson, Chris Farley, Norm Macdonald, Steve Buscemi and Darren McGavin. It tells the story of the 27-year-old spoiled heir, Billy Madison, who has to repeat grades 1-12 in order to regain his father’s trust.
The son of hotel mogul Bryan Madison (Darren McGavin), Billy Madison has been enjoying a rich and pampered life, comfortable with the fact that he will soon be inheriting his father’s hotel empire. He spends his time drinking with friends and creating disorders in his father’s estates. But when he ruins an important business dinner, his father finally decides to cut him from his will until he proves that he can become a changed man. Billy is then forced to repeat elementary and high school to attest that he has it in himself to take care of the family business.
Because of its explicit language and dirty humor, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rated
Billy Madison with PG-13. The film was entirely produced in Ontario, Canada. It earned a total of $24 million worldwide. It was also nominated in the 1995 MTV Movie Award for the Best Comedic Performance category (Adam Sandler).
Unfortunately,
Billy Madison was poorly received by movie critics. As Brian Lowry of
Variety wrote on his original review, “There are a few bursts of sheer, irresistible idiocy -- along the lines of "Wayne's World" or even "Pee-wee's Big Adventure"-- but not enough to sustain the more arid stretches.” Rita Kempley of
Washington Post wrote that the movie didn’t put enough effort to convey its morale to the viewers. Barbara Shulgasser of
San Francisco Chronicle was more direct in describing the film as “tedious, unfunny.”
-Katherine Garcia, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image Courtesy of Universal Pictures)