Raunchy, Politically Incorrect Comedy Of The '90s That Wouldn't Be Made Today
By Chris Snellgrove | Published
Few actors in the world are as diverse as Adam Sandler. Every time, he will do everything in his power to prove how good he can be in serious roles, including dramatic ones. Punch-Drunk Love and deep anxiety Uncut gems. Mostly, though, Sanderr sticks to the kinds of comedy that made him famous Saturday Night Live: that means stupid words, broad jokes, and adventures that go too far before their breaking point. It doesn't always work, especially with recent comics like this It's HalloweenI maintain it should be described as a war crime.
If Sandler is bad, he's bad enough to carry the rest of the movie. It's the reverse, though: when Sander is really good, he can elevate stupid movies to box office gold. That's right The Waterboy1998 gem about a backwoods waterboy who discovers he's mysteriously good at college football. Is the movie dumb? Like, room temperature IQ is dumb. Is it full of silly jokes, including a weird running character from the eternal Sandler +1, Rob Schneider? That's a Texas size 10-4, good friend! If those aren't sellers, though, you can enjoy this politically incorrect laugh riot, now streaming on Tubi.
When a Boy Meets Water
The foundation of The Waterboy that Adam Sandler plays a stuttering kid who works as a water boy for the University of Louisiana football team. He loses that gig to a jerk of a coach, and ends up throwing water on the football team: the South-Central Louisiana State University Mud Dogs. However, it doesn't take long before the coach of this new team realizes that his waterboy is an idiot when it comes to football. He puts Sandler's character on the field, turning him almost immediately into a local legend.
The water boy enjoys his newfound fame, but runs into trouble balancing his new responsibilities with his old life. For example, his childhood crush (played by Fairuza Balk) wants to date him, but that doesn't fly with his minister mother (played by Kathy Bates). In addition, he must constantly worry about pleasing his trainer, played to hangdog perfection by Henry Winkler. Like all sports comics, The Waterboy culminating in a rivalry between rival factions that will (somehow) change our hero's life forever.
Funny Dumb Joke
When I rewatched The Waterboy for the first time in over a decade, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed its sweet, dumb humor. I was still in high school when this movie premiered, and all the funny jokes still resonated with my inner child. Some of them aren't even jokes so much as stupid things said in stupid ways, like when a professor who looks like Colonel Sanders keeps repeating “medulla oblongata” until Sandler squeals like a pig and charges. My favorite is when the water boy's mother rejects the wisdom of the college book, shouting, “That's nonsense, I invented electricity. Ben Franklin is the Devil!”
The real talk? How bent you are when you read it will determine whether you will like it or not The Waterboy. Also, Sanderr is notoriously divisive, and his style of comedy isn't for everyone. But he was completely saddened by the good films of the 1990s, including Billy Madison, Happy Gilmoreagain Wedding Singer. The Waterboy it's arguably not as good (or at least, as memorable) as other films in the actor's oeuvre, but it's undeniably Sandler at his most gloriously consistent. If you ever enjoyed singing along to his silly songs or quotes Happy Gilmore to your hapless friends and family, you'll probably love his performance as a village idiot turned football icon.
The Hottest White Boy of the '90s
Adam Sandler is predictably strong The Waterboy: he knows his limits as an actor and, within those limits, he knows how to make us laugh with the perfect mix of physical comedy and punch lines. The real surprise of the movie, however, is how many Hollywood stars joined the cast. Henry Winkler is great as the fake waterboy father, and his low-key humor makes him a perfect counterpoint to Sandler's wackiness. Meanwhile, Kathy Bates steals scenes from Sandler by embodying a persistent (and often highly accurate) Southern stereotype: the domineering, overly religious mother. Seriously, watching The Waterboy it's worth it just for his scenes alone.
There are other wild surprises The Waterboy cast, including Clint Howard as a stupid football fan. Needless to say, Rob Schneider shows up, making the most of a running gag that will eventually become perfect meme fodder (shouting “You can do it!”). Perhaps the most surprising revelation of the cast is how good Fairuza Balk is as Sandler's love interest. Channeling some of her manic pixie scream girl energy from Artyou are exactly like that attractive as a bad girl with a criminal past. Honestly, Balk was supposed to be one of the biggest stars of the '90s and early controversies, and he played a small role in the memorable performance of the entire film.
Stream Today? You can do it!
About jokes, The Waterboy it's a throwback to a simpler time. It's a politically incorrect time, too, which is why this movie has never been made today. Adam Sandler's Bobby Boucher makes Forrest Gump look like a Mensa candidate, and the fact that we're laughing at a kid with special needs is admittedly uncomfortable. If you can get past the annoying nature of the comics, though, there's a lot to like about it The Waterboy. Bobby is not an intellectually trustworthy person, but he is easily likable and innocently kind. Throw in well-written gags, great jokes, and a surprisingly clever script, and you have a '90s comedy worth revisiting.
Ready to kick back with one of the funniest, funniest, and most powerful comics of the past? You can stream now The Waterboy free on Tubi. Remember that with the movie being silent, you should probably keep pouring yourself a drink before you pick up the remote. Will it be beer or spirit? In honor of Bobby Boucher, there is only one real option: a tall glass of high quality H2O!
WATERBOY REVIEW SCORE
