Well, I am feeling alot better now. I have been to Tenerife with Shane and now need some inspiration...
Well, I am feeling alot better now. I have been to Tenerife with Shane and now need some inspiration to write again. Any suggestions?
Member since:11.07.2000
Reviews:372
Members who trust:372
“Once you adopt a kid, you've got to keep him”.
For some reason I gave Shane (my husband) the video ‘Big Daddy’ for his birthday last year and have only got around to watching it about three months ago. Actually, I wish I had watched it earlier, as I found it extremely funny and enjoyed it very much. In the Sonny Koufax character I can see elements of Shane, an intellectual, intelligent man wishing to remain a child, avoiding the responsibilities life gives and generally, just being a big child at heart!
**Plot**
Sonny Koufax (Adam Sandler) is a thirty-two year old law school graduate, who is steadfastly avoiding the responsible pressures of adulthood. As the lone rebel among his group of law school peers, he refrains from the career and marriage/partnership route. He takes on a part-time job (one night a week!), frequents the neighbourhood sports bar and eats endless amounts of take-out meals, ninety percent of which are delivered. Even his roommate and old law school friend, Kevin (Jon Stewart) is joining the ranks of the ‘grown-ups’ by proposing to his long-time girlfriend, Corinne (Leslie Mann). She was in a former life a Hooters waitress,
always good for a laugh but is perpetually at odds with Sonny. The only people who appreciate Sonny's unique outlook on life are Corinne's beautiful sister, Layla (Joey Lauren Adams), a hard-working attorney, and his long-time take-away delivery guy (Rob Schneider), who has practically achieved the status of a third room and soul mate.
In an attempt to impress his girlfriend, Vanessa (Kristy Swanson), and prove he is ready for responsibility, Sonny adopts a five-year old boy, Julian (Cole and Dylan Sprouse), under the false pretence of being his biological father. The plan backfires on him and Vanessa leaves him anyway. Sonny tries to ‘return’ the child to Social Services but is faced with placing Julian in a children's home until the agency finds a suitable foster family, Sonny agrees to take care of him for the time being. Although plunged into the unknown territory of sleep deprivation, irritating children's songs and bedwetting, Sonny soon embraces his role as a temporary dad taking an unconventional approach to child rearing, especially in the male art of toilet training. When a posh New York eatery declares its ‘bathroom’ off-limits, Sonny takes a different approach when 'nature calls'. Nevertheless, the devious subterfuge eventually catches up with him when Social Services discovers he is not Julian's real father. In an attempt to keep ‘his son’, whom he has grown to love, he legally challenges the Social Services. In order to make their relationship legal and permanent. With this action, Sonny surprises himself, his family and his friends as he realises his need to accept real-life responsibility.
**The Main Cast**
Sonny Koufax:... Adam Sandler Layla:...Joey Lauren Adams Kevin Garrotte:...Jon Stewart Delivery Guy:...Rob Schneider Julian:...Cole Sprouse Julian:... Dylan Sprouse Corinne:...Leslie Mann Phil:.... Allen Covert Directed by:...Dennis Dugan
Big Daddy brings together a diverse cast of talented actors including Joey Lauren Adams (A Cool Dry Place, Chasing Amy), Jon Stewart (Playing by Heart, The Faculty), Rob Schneider (Knock-Off, The Waterboy), Leslie Mann (The Cable Guy, George of the Jungle), and Allen Covert (Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer).
In Big Daddy, there are some funny scenes and situation, but this not the only way to view the film. It is always possible to see a second interpretation. In this version, Sonny is a self-centred, cruel man who works one day a week in a tollbooth and cares for no one but himself. His goal in life is to remain a juvenile. This is shown by stunts like tripping up on-line skaters, peeing on the walls of fancy restaurants and covering up piles of sick with old newspaper. He shouts at the child when he does not get the response that he requires. Technically in today’s society, a child growing up with this type of role model, could be classed as a child abuse victim, from neglect.
I personally prefer to look at the film using my original interpretation. Sonny experiences all the fun, the confusion, the fear and ultimately the joy of being a single parent. At the heart of Sonny's seemingly unconventional lifestyle and unique child-rearing philosophy is the relationship with his own strict, conservative father, a no-nonsense attorney who set high standards for his son and Sonny does not wish this to happens to Julian.
It is a great film for the whole family to watch and if you want to know more, then my advice is get the video!
**Release Details**
Columbia Tri-Star Pictures Release Date: June 25, 1999
Production Year: 2000 - Comedy - Director: David Raynr - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, Shane West, Marla Sokoloff, James Franco, Colin Hanks, Christine Lakin, Aaron Paul
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Director: Tony Dow - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: John Challis, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Tessa Peake-Jones, Gwyneth Strong
i love this film! i love the parts with the german guy they have me in hysterics! great review, lizzie
hegarty1987 23.07.2003 10:08
I love this film, I like Adam Sandler, the critics are very harsh about him
MonkeyMoo 23.07.2002 16:12
I love this film - tho I admit it made me cry the first time I saw it when Sonny had to give up Julian! but now I know the happy ending it just makes me laugh!
Thirty-two-year-old Sonny Koufax (Adam Sandler) has spent his whole life avoiding ... more
responsibility. But when his girlfriend dumps him for an older man, he's got to find a way to prove he's ready to grow up. In a desperate last-ditch effort, Sonny adopts ...
Nov 29th, 2001
(Dec 1st, 2001)
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