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Review: Sandler should've punted 'Waterboy'
Web posted on:
Friday, November 13, 1998 1:47:20 PM
From CNN Interactive Sr. Producer Dave Rickett
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| I RATE IT: |
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All ratings are out of 5
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Originality
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Plot
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Laughs
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As Sandler films go
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Overall
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(CNN) -- Being a fan of Adam Sandler, I went into "The Waterboy" expecting to see his usual underdog wit and clever comebacks. Unfortunately, this film isn't the right vehicle to showcase Sandler's talents.
The problem isn't the general perception that this is a moronic, sophomoric movie -- that might be more enjoyable (see "Billy Madison" or "Happy Gilmore"). The biggest impediment to this movie is Sandler's speech. His stammering and stuttering prevents the classic Sandler from shining through. I waited the whole movie for him to miraculously metamorphosize into his usual schtick (don't get your hopes up).
That's not to say there aren't a few laugh-out-loud sight gags and a couple of good one-liners stolen by mama Kathy Bates. But they can't salvage the formulaic sports movie plot, the stereotypical Louisiana characters or the lame role of Henry "The Fonz" Winkler as an off-kilter coach. As a whole, it's
not so much stupid as it is boring.
Rent it on video -- after you see all the stuff you really want to see.
| SANDLER RANKING: |
Among Sandler films:
1. "The Wedding Singer"
2. "Happy Gilmore"
3. "Billy Madison"
4. "The Waterboy"
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| COMEDY RANKING: |
Among other comedies:
It's above recent Leslie Neilsen spoof films such as "Wrongfully Accused" or "Spy Hard," but far below "There's Something About Mary."
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| BEST LINE: |
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When the coach asks what part of a snake he's about to eat, mama replies,
"Basically a snake don't have parts. But if I had to call it anything, I'd
call it a knee."
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Adam Sandler, top, and supporting cast (L-R) Kathy Bates, Fairuza Balk and Henry "The Fonz" Winkler.
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| MEDIA: |
 Theatrical preview:
Clip: "Stop making fun of me"
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| CATCH PHRASE |
that could annoy the nation:
"open up a can of whoop ass"
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| MAIN CHARACTERS: |
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Adam Sandler, stuttering waterboy Bobby Boucher
Kathy Bates, Mama Boucher and backcountry Cajun cook
Henry Winkler, a slightly crazy-in-the-head coach
Fairuza Balk, the tatooed, leather-wearing rebel temptress/girlfriend
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| THE FINAL WORD: |
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Unfortunately, this Cajun character holds back the Adam Sandler we know and
love.
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THE OFFICIAL SITE:
http://www.thewaterboy-themovie.com
(better write that down - you'll never remember it)
Not just the movie propaganda you see at many movie sites. This one has a few bonuses:
- Uncover the real people behind the characters in the Waterboy Playbook.
- Just Add Water to learn how to make mama's favorite Waterboy recipes, like six-sided frozen water or frost.
- Thwart the perils of dehydration In The Drenches.
- Become a waterboy yourself as you route the water from a faucet to the quaterback in the Quaterback Leak shockwave game.
- E-mail messages like, "Sandler rules" or "Sip, don't gulp" in Crowd Pleaser.
CRITICAL ROUNDUP:
Here's a look at what other critics have to say:
- All-Movie Guide -- "There is absolutely nothing engaging about this predictable plot - every turn of the story feels like filler while you wait for him to make the next comically violent tackle." 3 stars if you're stoned, 1 star if you're sober.
- E! Online -- "Die-hard fans will love the sophomoric humor, but for anyone expecting the comedy to rise beyond the moronic, "The Waterboy" is all wet." C+
- Entertainment Weekly -- "This is certainly Sandler at his cheapest and least focused. Also -- his unfunniest." D-
- Film.com -- "'The Waterboy' is business as usual for the comedian, a batch of dumbass jokes wrapped around a whiny character."
- Mr. Showbiz -- "It's a slipshod affair, with slow jokes that would shame a fifth-grader. If you've seen the trailer, you've already seen the film at its best." 32 out of 100
- The New York Times -- "Sandler succeeds in doing to football whatever he did to golf ("Happy Gilmore") and in making his version of the sports-savant movie look like an awfully good bet."
- Siskel & Ebert -- two thumbs down
- USA Today -- "As funny as it can be, this underdawg comedy isn't much more than Sandler's golf-oriented "Happy Gilmore" with a Cajun accent." 2 1/2 stars out of 4
All photos courtesy Touchstone Pictures.
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