Production Year: 1995 - Comedy - Director: Tamra Davis - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Adam Sandler, Bradley Whitford, Josh Mostel, Bridgette Wilson, Darren McGavin, Chris Farley, Norm Macdonald more
In order to gain control of his family's billion dollar business, a man must win a bet that he can go through grades 1-12 again in 6 months. The fact that he's a hopeless goof who... more
Billy Madison [DVD] [1996]
For Adam Sandler fans only, this dopey comedy features the formerSaturday Night Livestar ... more
as an overindulged rich guy whose father insists he repeat grades 1 through 12 before taking over the family business. The scenario is perfect for Sandler's infant...
Billy Madison [DVD] [1996]
For Adam Sandler fans only, this dopey comedy features the formerSaturday Night Livestar ... more
as an overindulged rich guy whose father insists he repeat grades 1 through 12 before taking over the family business. The scenario is perfect for Sandler's infant...
Billy Madison DVD
He's heir to the Madison Hotel millions but the only subjects Billy has studied lately ... more
are babes and booze. For him life has been a ten-year party since he left high school: drinking bottomless daiquiris catching rays by the pool pulling moronic pr...
Billy Madison
He's heir to the Madison Hotel millions, but the only subjects Billy (Adam Sandler) has ... more
studied lately are babes and booze. For him, life has been a ten-year party since he left high school: drinking bottomless daiquiris, catching rays by the pool, pulling moronic pranks and chasing anything in (or out of!) a skirt.But when Brian Madison (Darren McGavin) informs his goofball son that he plans to turn over his fortune 500 company to vice president/weasel Eric Gordon (Bradley Whitford), Billy makes the best of his life. He's going back to school - grades 1 through 12 in 24 week! - with hilarious results. And this time, Mr. Madison's cheque book won't be the source of Billy's academic advancement.Can bona fide blockhead Billy clean up his act to win his father's respect, the family fortune and the love of his beautiful teacher, Veronica (Bridgett Wilson)? Hey, It's worth a shot!
Billy Madison [VHS] [1996]
For Adam Sandler fans only, this dopey comedy features the formerSaturday Night Livestar ... more
as an overindulged rich guy whose father insists he repeat grades 1 through 12 before taking over the family business. The scenario is perfect for Sandler's infantile leanings (which he has fortunately outgrown in more recent movies), and for the most part the jokes about being too old and too big for the experiment are obvious. Chris Farley and Steve Buscemi turn up in uncredited cameo appearances, but otherwise the film is pretty dismissible, except for those diehards who can't get enough of Sandler. --Tom Keogh
Comedy - Director: Blake Edwards - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Capucine, David Niven, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers
Comedy - Director: John Howard-Davies, Bob Spiers - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Connie Booth, Andrew Sachs, Prunella Scales, John Cleese
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 - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
A review by shanediablo on Billy Madison (DVD) August 11th, 2008
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Indifferent to it
Story
Very weak
Characters / Performances
Unmemorable
Special Effects
Unmemorable
How does it compare to similar films?
Unmemorable
Advantages:
Steve Buscemi cameo, Bridgette Wilson (delightful)
Disadvantages:
More or less everythingabout the film !
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Having had mixed views on Sandler films in the past, I was flicking through the sky movies channels (as i so often do) on friday night and stumbled across 'Billy Madison'.
Billy Madison is a comedy film made in 1995 which is directed by Tamra Davis. The film is co-written by Adam Sandler and Tim Herlihy, and the film is produced by Universal Pictures.
So what is it all about? ------------------------------
When Brian Madison (Darren McGavin) makes a decision to retire from the hotel chain that he owns, it would seem that the logical choice would be to hand down the business to his only son, Billy (Adam Sandler). The problem is that Billy just so happens to be a complete delinquent that has absolutely not concept of how to look after himself, let alone a multi-million dollar company.
After Billy makes a mockery of his father at a dinner meeting with business associates, it becomes pretty obvious that Billy is unsuitable to run the company and therefore Brian is pretty set on handing control of the company on to the devious Eric Gordon (Bradley Whitford). However after much protesting from Billy, his father and he reach the agreement that if Billy manages to complete every level of compulsory education within twenty four weeks.
When he begins the process of education again very early on in the piece Billy begins trying to get the attention of the very attractive Veronica Vaughan (Bridgette Wilson), a teacher who had previously caught Billy's eye. After completing the first two grades, Billy becomes one of Veronica's students, and it is during this time that he manages to get very close to her.
The progression that Billy is making seems to really get Eric riled up and it is this annoyance which leads him to a devious idea to scupper the chances of Billy becoming owner of the company; Eric bribes the principal of the school Max Anderson (Josh Morstel) by threatening to expose Anderson for his wrestling past which could ruin his career. Anderson duly obliges by stating on television that Billy bribed him in order to pass and progress to High School, this is clearly untrue.
Brian decides once again that his son is not fit to run the company, and this sends Billy into a lazy binge session reminiscent of his previous days before this new chance came about. After some gentle persuasion from Veronica, Billy manages to get back on track and attend high school again.
Cue a new and motivated Billy determined to not only pass of all the required education in time, but also to win over the girl and start a long term relationship with Veronica. Will this happen? Well i'm not in the business of spoiling films by giving away too much information on the film or its ending so you will just have to find out for yourself!
Is it any good? -------------------
As I stated before, Adam Sandler's films in my experience are pretty hit and miss. Billy Madison probably falls into the latter, not because it is a terrible film really but more because it lacks depth.
The premise of the film is entirely ridiculous for a start. I can the idea of bad-turned-good motivated by the attractive girl, but what is really ridiculous is the notion of a twenty-seven year old going back to school (particuarly the younger classes) but not only this, he also has only 24 weeks to finish twelve years worth of education. This I find too ridiculous to overlook, the fact that it is a comedy.
So ridiculousness aside, it the film funny? Well not really. The film is mildly amusing at times and there is always an element of likeability to Sandler's characters and this keeps the film watchable. Of course this is aided by the absolutely stunning Bridgette Wilson who plays the love interest, she lights the screen up, and not in the coventional way.
It becomes very clear that there is little depth to the film quite early on. Pretty much the moment Billy and Veronica first kiss. Considering how repulsed by Billy, Veronica seemed, it seems fanciful that she could all of a sudden find him a sex-bomb after him passing a couple of grades of elementary school. The relationship isn't really taken on any further in detail so we are left a bit in the dark which is not a sign of a well made film. Just because it is a comedy, it doesn't mean that standard film guidelines can be entirely thrown out of the window.
Watchable, but only if you do genuinely have ninety minutes of your life that you are willing to spare. Do not expect to be in fits of laughter or to be thrilled by seeing a well made film.
Finally - Look out for a quirkly little cameo from an uncredited Steve Buscemi. He always provides good value and here is no exception!
How much is it and where can I get it? ----------------------------------------------------
The film is available on DVD from play.com at £4.99 with free delivery. Despite the very low cost of purchasing this film, I honestly couldn't recommend a purchase unless you are absolutely loaded or really love Adam Sandler.
Advantages: Stupidly funny! Disadvantages: Not very original
Billy Madison is another comedy film starring the as yet unknown at the time Adam Sandler. It was made in 1995 when Sandler was still on Saturday Night Live.
Adam Sandler plays the titular character; he's 27 and the son of Bryan Madison (Darren McGavin), a very rich hotel magnate. So he has never worked a day in his life and doesn't know the true meaning of money as everything is just given to him. But Bryan is retiring, and is torn about whether ... ...co-worker at Madison Hotels. So Billy strikes a deal with his dad: he will go through each school grade and pass their exams in a short period of time in order for him to become the head of the company. If he fails, it goes to Gordon.
And if that isn't enough pressure, he gets heckled at school, goofs off as much as he can and tried to woo his third grade teacher, Veronica Vaughn. Will it all pay off?
No offense to Adam Sandler, but this is the ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Did you enjoy it?
Story
Characters / Performances
Special Effects
How does it compare to ...
very helpful
15.01.2009
Dont Bother! Review ofBilly Madison (DVD)by
sewbizzie
Advantages: May appeal to children Disadvantages: Weak story, very annoying lead character
...Adam plays the part of Billy Madison who's family own large hotels and are millionaires. Billy is set to inherit the fortune when his father retires. He is a fun loving man and does not take life seriously. All he has done since leaving school is sit around drinking and playing practical jokes. Eric works with Billy's father at their company and he starts talking Billy dad around to leaving him the company instead as he says Billy will not be able ... ...so on his grades alone. Billy is upset by this and decides to make a bet with his father. He bets that he will graduate from school on his own, doing all 6 grades in 12 weeks. If Billy is successful then he will take over the company but if not the company will go to Eric. Billy starts out at school and soon learns that it is much harder than he remembered and he also falls in love with a teacher who he later finds out is the third grade teacher. ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Did you enjoy it?
Story
Characters / Performances
Special Effects
How does it compare to ...
very helpful
01.10.2008
Quick review of Billy Madison (Wide Screen) Review ofBilly Madison (DVD)by
Carl_1987
If your an adam sandler fan this film is a must. he shows that even grown men can fine that graduating primary school isnt easy. And with someone more than willing to take over his family business billy finds the odds are definatly against him.
its worth checking out and is the sort of film you can watch again and again.
theres even a bit of romance in the film for you love fans.
Advantages: funny!! Disadvantages: nothing i can think off
...a toddler could understand it, billy madison is the son of a very wealthy man, his dad is the owner of a chain of hotels, billy is a high school drop out (though he doesnt know this) and sits at his mansion getting drunk, looking at dirty magazines chasing invisible penguins with his two very thick friends.
Howeve on one particular day his dad decided he has had enough of his behaviour and will not be giving control of the business to him but (damn ... ...be one mean dude).
Billy tells his dad that he will go through every grade from play school and pass, but he only has two weeks to learn and pass that grade. his dad likes the idea and then the story begins.
The dude (still havent thought of his name) doesnt like this and does all he can to stop billy getting the company and in the end he does so.
However people find out that it was just a lie so billy and the dude go head to head in a learnathon ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: So stupid, you have to laugh!! Disadvantages: At times can become,alittle to childish!
...Gilmore’ and ‘The Waterboy’. Well Billy Madison is one of his original classics. The film contains every stupid element, you do not think you would find funny: from imaginary penguins to gay a principle. But you find you have to laugh at the outrageous humour. I admit I do enjoy the film even if the story does not seem that feasible. Billy Madison is a movie about a millionaire’s son called, ‘Billy Madison’ who spends his time getting drunk in the ... ...just so happens to hate Billy Madison). To prevent the company going in to the wrong hands, Billy Madison goes back to school, repeating every school year win his fathers faith and to save the company.
The film is simple but funny can provide fun for all the family, even if a bit childish at times. A good, good film.
I recommend it to everyone. ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Plot: Billy, the heir to the Madison Hotel millions, has wasted his life with booze and girls since leaving school. When he discovers his father's plan to turn his fortune over to his Vice President, Billy decides to go back to school and make-up for lost time...
Release details
DVD Region: DVD
Studio(s): UCA; CINRAM LOGISTICS (SWINDON)
Release date: 24/12/2001
No of Discs: 1
Catalogue No: 902 186 9
Barcode: 3259190218697
Screenwriter: Rich Wilkes
DVD Description
In order to gain control of his family's billion dollar business, a man must win a bet that he can go through grades 1-12 again in 6 months. The fact that he's a hopeless goof who failed all these grades the first time doesn't help.
Languages
Main Language: English
Hearing Impaired Language: English
Technical information
Special Features: Trailer
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Wide Screen
Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Dubbing Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround English
Professional reviews
Review: "...A healthy streak of sick humor that keeps you guessing..." (USA Today, p.5D, 24/02/1995)
"...A certain manic energy and no-holds-barred attitude....[With] bursts of sheer, irresistible idiocy..." (Variety, 13/02/1995)
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since : 30/08/2000
Compare Billy Madison (DVD) to other similar Comedy
![Billy Madison [DVD] [1996]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78541296.jpg)
![Billy Madison [VHS] [1996]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/83954165.jpg)
