Review: That's My Boy
Happy Gilmore. Mr Deeds. The Wedding Singer. The Waterboy. Reign Over Me. Click. All fantastic movies starring Adam Sandler, be they rip roaring comedies or grounded, tearjerking displays of life after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Grown Ups. Jack and Jill. Just Go With It. I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry. All horrific movies starring Adam Sandler, be they about a sarcastic middle aged man attempting to cheat on his wife or the chief actor portraying male and female siblings to awful comedic effect.
So which category does That's My Boy sit in? Is it redemption for Sandler or yet another nail in the coffin of his comedic acting career?
It's with an incredibly disappointed and heavy heart that I say: unfortunately, it's the latter. What starts off as an amusing, satiric film about a schoolboy's rise to fame thanks to a shocking love affair with his teacher soon turns into a loud-mouthed farce as soon as Sandler makes his entrance.
They're estranged. "Hilarity" ensues. It really is that simple. "But Donny, you can't get drunk and embarrass me at my posh bachelor party!" says Todd. Donny gets drunk and embarrasses Todd at his posh bachelor party. Ha.
For despite Andy Samberg's eccentric and witty music videos, his role in That's My Boy is limited to the straight talking, reactive personality having to deal with all of Sandler's mishaps. He's like a nanny picking up the pieces of Sandler's childlike immaturity and trying to keep the film from falling apart. The role doesn't benefit him at all, and his performance is rather wooden as though he is simply trying to out-shout Sandler.
Yet, That's My Boy does have its moments where a little laugh is raised. Vanilla Ice has a pretty amusing, self deprecating cameo, whilst some of the 'crude' jokes I mentioned are very hit and miss, but when they hit they are guaranteed to make a receptive mind chuckle. There may be a semen joke that will make you roll your eyes but don't worry, there will be another semen joke along in a minute that might (just might) tickle your funny bone. The movie certainly gains momentum when it hits the halfway point of its 114 minute running time, with the plot actually becoming slightly more memorable and intricate. That said, it still doesn't quite hit the point where you'll leave feeling like your money has been well spent.
Summary

3/10
See it if you liked: Grown Ups (2011), The Dilemna (2011), Just Go With It (2011)
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