Barely been on here for a YEAR! Sorry If I've not been able to respond to anything. Hope you are all...
Barely been on here for a YEAR! Sorry If I've not been able to respond to anything. Hope you are all doing very well x
Member since:24.05.2007
Reviews:51
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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.
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
Great review. I've always gone into watching Adam Sandler films not expecting much. I love the wedding singer,click & 50 first dates but all the others have been a slight let down as well as this film. Was watching Little Nicky last night, it really was quite awful. great review. Kirsty. x
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...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
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...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 6 to 11 days...
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...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: Its mindless rather than mindnumbing. Giving you a good laugh without making you think. Disadvantages: Not remarkable and falls flat in places.
scorching 13.01.2002 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Billy Madison (DVD)
![Billy Madison [DVD] [1996]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78541296.jpg "Billy Madison [DVD] [1996]")
Aug 11th, 2008
exceptional by (10%):
very helpful by (90%):
