The Waterboy *** (1998, Adam Sandler, Kathy Bates, Henry Winkler) – Classic Movie Review 645

Adam Sandler is the ultimate in clumsy as Bobby Boucher, a US football team’s waterboy, who suddenly finds he can tackle like a wild thing, in this sporadically very funny slapstick comedy, an above-average entry for the Sandler course. It’s written by Sandler with Tim Herlihy and directed Frank Coraci in 1998.

Doing a Jerry Lewis, Sandler is amusing, Kathy Bates is a hoot as his over-protective, over-weight mom, and Henry Winkler gets his laughs as Coach Klein. The Waterboy is good-natured and goodish, but it is not in the class of the same team’s The Wedding Singer (1998). However, it enjoyed an American opening weekend gross of more than $40million, nearly twice The Wedding Singer’s.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Film Review 645 derekwinnert.com