Big Daddy (1999)

A lazy law school grad adopts a kid to impress his girlfriend, but everything doesn't go as planned and he becomes the unlikely foster father.

Director:

Dennis Dugan

Writers:

Steve Franks (story), Steve Franks (screenplay),

Stars:

Adam Sandler, Joey Lauren Adams, Jon Stewart

8 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Adam Sandler	...	Sonny Koufax
Joey Lauren Adams	...	Layla Maloney
Jon Stewart	...	Kevin Gerrity
Cole Sprouse	...	Julian 'Frankenstien' McGrath
Dylan Sprouse	...	Julian 'Frankenstien' McGrath
Josh Mostel	...	Arthur Brooks
Leslie Mann	...	Corinne Maloney
Allen Covert	...	Phil D'Amato
Rob Schneider	...	Delivery Guy
Kristy Swanson	...	Vanessa
Joseph Bologna	...	Lenny Koufax
Peter Dante	...	Tommy Grayton
Jonathan Loughran	...	Mike
Steve Buscemi	...	Homeless Guy
Tim Herlihy	...	Singing Kangaroo

Storyline

Sonny Koufax is 32 years old. He's a law school graduate. He's got a nice apartment in Manhattan. There's just one problem. He does nothing, except sit on his butt and live off an investment that was the result of a meager lawsuit he won a year ago. But after his fed up girlfriend leaves him, he comes up with the ingenious idea to adopt a five year old boy to showcase his newfound maturity. But things don't go as planned, and Sonny finds himself the unlikely foster father that will change his perspective on just looking out for himself.

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Plot Keywords:

law | law school | responsibility | homeless man | vomit | 

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Taglines:

Nature called. Look who answered.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language and some crude humor

Details

Official Sites:

Big Daddy

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

25 June 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Guy Gets Kid

Filming Locations:

Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$34,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,360,121 (UK) (1 October 1999)

Gross:

£4,434,727 (UK) (12 November 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jack Giarraputo Productions, Out of the Blue... Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Allen Covert has appeared in fourteen Adam Sandler films.

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Goofs

When Sonny is arguing with Julian over what to order in McDonald's, the man behind Julian (who later comments about Sonny's parenting) turns towards Sonny. When we cut back to Julian, the same man turns again.

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Quotes

Sonny: Hey! You just made the biggest mistake of your life, baby. I know you're gunna be missing me when you have that big, white, wrinkly body on you with his loose skin and old balls... gross! Ugh!

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Crazy Credits

Note to Cozy's: Adam also likes your hamburgers

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Connections

Referenced in Uptown Girls (2003)

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Soundtracks

"Jump"
Written by Edward Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, and David Lee Roth
Performed by Van Halen
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Adam Sandler in top form!

While all of the somphoric pre-teens will be giggling silly at the childish potty jokes shown in AUSTIN POWERS 2, the real adults will be laughing their heads off in a much funnier film called BIG DADDY. This is Sandler's sixth starring role feature, and it seems that the sixth time is a splending charm. This is Sandler's best work yet! Now in case you are wondering, I enjoyed both HAPPY GILMORE, and THE WEDDING SINGER. But there's something charming and wonderful on why I enjoyed BIG DADDY more. Perhaps it's seeing a over-grown kid taking care of a little boy. Or it's Sandler mixing his in your face attitude that he gave in HAPPY GILMORE with his soft-spot attiude from THE WEDDING SINGER. Whatever it is, it works, and it works very well! The simple plot of BIG DADDY is a 5 year old child is left on the doorstep of Sandler's apartment. It turns out to be the child of his roommate (Jon Stewart), who's on his way to China for a legal case. So what is Sandler to do, but to give him to the child protective service. But it's a holiday, and they are closed, so Sandler keeps him for a day, then another day, and... well you get the picture. But the plot doesn't matter much with this film, it's the laughs, and you do get plenty of those. But you also get a wonderful supporting cast. There's a good support from Jon Stewart, the always wonderful and beautiful Joey Lauren Adams, Leslie Mann, and Kristy Swanson (the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer). And what's a Sandler movie like if you don't have his usual character actor friends in small comic roles; Rob Schrieder, Steve Buscemi, Josh Mostel, Allen Covert (the caddy from HAPPY GILMORE who was also the limo driver friend in THE WEDDING SINGER), and Jonathan Loughran (the lazy-eyed football player in THE WATERBOY). There's even a funny cameo role by director Dennis Dugan, as the man who refuses to answer the door on Halloween, while Sandler is taking his adopted son trick or treating. This film was a lot more funnier that THE WATERBOY, it was also funnier than THE WEDDING SINGER and HAPPY GILMORE. It was believe it or not, more touching. You can understand why Sandler doesn't want to let this boy go, since he reminds him so much of himself. And Sandler sees that being a father figure isn't only fun, but it redeems himself from the lost of his girlfriend. I have to give both Sandler and director Dennis Dugan (the same director of HAPPY GILMORE) a round of applause. They teamed up for a comedy that is not only successful, but will make A LOT of money. Sandler and Dugan are the best comedian/director team since the late John Belushi and John Landis. I'm just hoping that they will continue to do films together in the futrue. Until then, take your date, your friends, or heck just go alone and enjoy one of the funniest comedies (next to ANALYZE THIS, ELECTION, and RUSHMORE) of this year. This is a wonderful treat! ****1/2 (out of five)