That’s My Boy, a Savvy Sandler Hit (Movie Review)

THATSposter

Coming off a dismal outing with Jack and Jill, Adam Sandler releases his newest comedy That’s My Boy trying to reconnect to his fans.  Partnering up with Andy Samberg and going old school he makes the film a hit. The very funny story builds during each act leading to a very humorous ending.

The silly little plot goes like this; while a very young teen Donny gets his teacher Ms McGarricle (Eva Amurri Martino) pregnant and she gets shipped off to prison for a very long time.  Attempting to raise his son Todd fails and finally gives up the task on his 18th birthday.  The plot speeds up 30 years and we find Todd (Andy Samberg) a successful Wall Street executive who is about to get married to Jamie (Leighton Meester).

In the meantime, Donny now 43-years-old has been living a pseudo-celebrity life as the kid who made it with his teacher and still gets recognized by his many fans.  Unfortunately in addition to his son he has also been avoiding the IRS and they want their money or Donny ends up in jail.  Wanting to evade the latter, he semi-accepts a deal with a local television station for the money he owes the government to do an interview of a reunion with McGarricle, Todd and him at the prison where she is being incarcerated.

Donny (Sandler) crashes his son Todd's (Samberg) wedding

The story goes on from there with Donny joining Vanilla Ice and getting involved in some sticky situations that get extremely funny at times.  The script gets played out in true Sandler ‘old Style’ (think The Wedding Singer, Big Daddy, The Waterboy) that really puts the comedian back on the hit list.

Making the story work by controlling the high profile cast and keeping them on track, Sean Anders (Hot Tub Time Machine, Sex Drive) provides even more laughter by allowing them to have fun with their roles. You can feel the chemistry between Sandler, Ice and Samberg as they interject some great adlibs that puts the comedy at a high pitch with Anders smartly letting it happen.

Donny joins the ladies in the hot tub

What would an Adam Sandler film be without hot babes, beer and a lot of wacky scenes so That’s My Boy provides a lot for the guys to see.  I especially like the performances by the Leighton Meester as the intended wife of Todd who pushes every button she can to advance her own destiny. She’s a gorgeous girl, but she sure has teeth and knows how to plant them.  The party hot tub gets full of the lovely ladies with plenty of eye candy to go around.

That’s My Boy has been rated R by the MPAA for crude sexual content throughout, nudity, pervasive language and some drug use. There are more bottles of beer consumed in this film than water in Water Boy.

FINAL ANALYSIS:  A fun film for the guys and Sandler fans. (B-)

Additional Film Information:

  • Cast: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Leighton Meester, Susan Sarandon and Vanilla Ice
  • Directed by: Sean Anders
  • MPAA Rating: R for crude sexual content throughout, nudity, pervasive language and some drug use
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Running Time: 1 hr 54 min
  • Opening Date: June 15, 2012
  • Distributed by: Sony Pictures Releasing

 

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