Big Daddy
A lazy law school grad adopts a kid to impress his girlfriend, but everything doesn't go as planned. Now he's forced to grow up while navigating the challenges of fatherhood.
What critics thought
DivisiveCritics found Big Daddy a mostly forgettable Sandler vehicle, faulting its uneasy lurches between gross-out comedy and sentimental family drama. Sandler's likability was nearly everyone's concession, but reviewers divided sharply over whether that charm was enough to carry a thin, predictable story — a handful thought he was maturing as a performer, while others worried he was already falling into a habit of coasting on presence alone.
“Sandler possesses an innocence that makes the mean-spiritedness inherent in much of his work surprisingly palatable.”
Nathan Rabin·The A.V. Club
“a step forward for Adam Sandler, as well as a strategy to expand his audience. While the loyal male-teen aud[ience] core will not be disappointed with the spate of gags just for them, story contains solid date-movie material.”
Robert Koehler·Variety
“There's no doubt Sandler is talented, but if he persists in believing that, like Elvis, his presence alone covers a multitude of omissions and inconsistencies, he will squander his gift and make a series of forgettable films in the process.”
Kenneth Turan·Los Angeles Times
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Cast & Crew
Dennis DuganDirector
Adam SandlerSonny
Joey Lauren AdamsLayla
Jon StewartKevin
Cole SprouseJulian
Dylan SprouseJulian
Josh MostelMr. Brooks
Leslie MannCorinne
Allen CovertPhil
Rob SchneiderDelivery Guy
Kristy SwansonVanessa
Joseph BolognaMr. Koufax
Peter DanteTommy
Teddy CastellucciComposer
Steve FranksWriter
Tim HerlihyWriterAdam SandlerWriter
Theo van de SandeCinematographyBig Daddy
A lazy law school grad adopts a kid to impress his girlfriend, but everything doesn't go as planned. Now he's forced to grow up while navigating the challenges of fatherhood.
What critics thought
DivisiveCritics found Big Daddy a mostly forgettable Sandler vehicle, faulting its uneasy lurches between gross-out comedy and sentimental family drama. Sandler's likability was nearly everyone's concession, but reviewers divided sharply over whether that charm was enough to carry a thin, predictable story — a handful thought he was maturing as a performer, while others worried he was already falling into a habit of coasting on presence alone.
“Sandler possesses an innocence that makes the mean-spiritedness inherent in much of his work surprisingly palatable.”
Nathan Rabin·The A.V. Club
“a step forward for Adam Sandler, as well as a strategy to expand his audience. While the loyal male-teen aud[ience] core will not be disappointed with the spate of gags just for them, story contains solid date-movie material.”
Robert Koehler·Variety
“There's no doubt Sandler is talented, but if he persists in believing that, like Elvis, his presence alone covers a multitude of omissions and inconsistencies, he will squander his gift and make a series of forgettable films in the process.”
Kenneth Turan·Los Angeles Times
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Cast & Crew
Dennis DuganDirectorAdam SandlerSonnyJoey Lauren AdamsLaylaJon StewartKevinCole SprouseJulianDylan SprouseJulianJosh MostelMr. BrooksLeslie MannCorinneAllen CovertPhilRob SchneiderDelivery GuyKristy SwansonVanessaJoseph BolognaMr. KoufaxPeter DanteTommyTeddy CastellucciComposerSteve FranksWriterTim HerlihyWriterAdam SandlerWriterTheo van de SandeCinematography