32-year old Sonny Koufax isn't exactly what you'd call a go-getter. He lives in an abandoned warehouse in lower Manhattan, works only one day a week (at a toll booth), and is living almost entirely off a $200,000 settlement he obtained from an automotive accident years prior. Meanwhile, his friends (including his girlfriend) are all too eager to write him off until he can get a full-time job (or, at least, take the BAR exam, being that he's a law school graduate) and start acting like a grown-up. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), such an opportunity literally lands on Sonny's doorstep in the form of a five year old orphan named Julian McGrath. Now all Sonny needs to do is learn how to be a responsible parent. And may be, just may be, he'll garner more respect from his friends and (perhaps most importantly) his comparably successful father.

Adam Sandler films are typically very hit-or-miss. On the one hand, they can be amusing if you're just looking for some cheap thrills and an enjoyable way to spend a rainy evening. But, beyond plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, they usually offer very little in the way of depth or sophistication. Big Daddy is a perfect example of this. The plot is pretty daft and really only serves as a backdrop for Sonny's adventures with Jullian. Fortunately, the corresponding jokes (which are typically the emphasis of almost every Sandler film) save Big Daddy from being a total disaster. Sonny and Jullian have some very funny moments together. My personal favorites include Sonny teaching Julian to urinate on the side of a fancy restaurant, Sonny teaching Julian to clean messes by covering them with newspapers, pretty much the entire grocery store scene, and Sonny's reaction to his ex's new boyfriend. Even when Julian is off screen, there are plenty of laughs to be found in Sonny's interaction with his ex-girlfriend and his constant ridiculing of one of his other friends for working at Hooters.

While these jokes are funny enough to keep the film consistently entertaining, they don't quite overshadow its many problems. The plot, as mentioned above, is quite silly. And, if not for the jokes, the film would just plow forward with no real sense of direction. This is particularly evident with its rather unsatisfying "Happily Ever After" ending, which cuts to Sonny's life a whole year after his adventure with Julian. Unfortunately, the movie doesn't do a very effective job of leading up to it. So it comes off as both awkward and forced. Meanwhile, many of the scenes (including the aforementioned Grocery Store scene) seem like they were added in strictly for laughs and, despite their length, really seem more like filler than an honest attempt to enhance the film.

In terms of characterization, Adam Sandler basically finishes his transition from the "wacky/crazy doofus" he was in films like Billy Madison to the "calm/collective doofus" he would be in this and most of his future films. Unlike in earlier films, Sandler relies more on his actions than his actual personality to supply the film's laughs. And, fortunately, it works quite well. Twins Cole and Dylan Sprouse share the role of Julian and have just the right amount of innocent charm to act as good foils for Sandler's antics. The actor who really steals the show, however, is IMO Rob Schneider with his hilarious performance as "the delivery guy." Unfortunately, the typically funny Jon Stewart is given a rather understated role. And while his actual performance is fine, he really would've benefited from a little more screentime. The worst performer, meanwhile, would have to be Joey Adams, who overacts many of her lines and, when all is said and done, comes off as neither charming nor interesting. The rest of the support cast, meanwhile, is okay. But certainly wouldn't be able to carry the movie on their own.

Overall, this film has enough funny moments to make it worth at least a weekend rental. However, the bottom line is that if you typically don't like Adam Sandler movies, you won't like Big Daddy. Everything critics complain about with his films is here. From the ridiculous plot to the questionable casting job. Nonetheless, if you like Adam Sandler or are just looking for a fun movie to watch on a rainy afternoon, then you can certainly do a lot worse than Big Daddy.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older