THAT'S MY BOY (2012)

Directed By: Sean Anders 
Written By: David Caspe 
Cinematography By: Brandon Trost 
Editor: Tom Costain 


Cast: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Leighton Meester, James Caan, Susan Sarandon, Vanilla Ice, Tony Orlando, Milo Ventimiglia, Ciara, Will Forte, Ana Gasteyer, Eva Amurri Martino, Nick Swardson, Blake Clark, Rachel Dratch, Luenell, Todd Bridges, Colin Quinn,


While still in his teens, Donny (Adam Sandler) fathered a son, Todd (Andy Samberg), and raised him as a single parent up until Todd's 18th birthday. Now, after not seeing each other for years, Todd's world comes crashing down on the eve of his wedding when an uninvited Donny suddenly shows up. Trying desperately to reconnect with his son, Donny is now forced to deal with the repercussions of his bad parenting skills.

The film's original title was "I Hate You Dad". That was later changed to "Donny's Boy" before settling on its present title.

While certainly more adult, this film feels overreaching and a bad fit or those involved. This doesn't come out of love for material it feels more line this seems like it will he a hot die to itms elements hitch then again makes it feel like most Sadler movies these days more calculating than heartfelt. While making it appear to go back to his more raunchy comedic roots.

Due to his films becoming more family friendly. This film feel like Sandler's attempt to go back to his more dark days of more raunchy humor. But even so it feels like he went even more over the top then before. Making the humor feel more forced than natural quirky frat humor.

Sometimes it feels like Adam Sandler won't rest until he has found a character to play in a movie that matches all of his wacky voices from his comedy albums and life. At least here he is putting in an effort.

Boasts Adam Sandler's worst opening weekend gross after REIGN OVER ME.

The film has a premise that could have gone either way. Instead it chooses to go for broke with not even juvenile humor, but low blow humor. That while funny, feels excessive. Like he is trying to make it up to his audience however he seems to forget they have gotten older and he is still playing to the cheap seats of frat boys. Who I guess he believes never grow older or seems to try to hook the kids who were fans of his family movies and gain a new audience that is now college aged.

Susan Sarandon plays a similar role to the one she played on the television series 30 Rock that same year. A teacher having a sexual relationship with an underage student.

Sandler is funny naturally though he usually depends on similar gags as formula. When it comes to his films.

Adam Sandler, Tim Herlihy, Robert Smigel, David Wain and Ken Marino all did uncredited rewrites of the script.

Strange that he doesn’t have his constant co-stars and friends Allen Covert and Jonathan Loughran --At least here he also has the help of rising star Andy Samberg to take on some of the weight in only his second time playing a lead in a film and more the straight man role.

I have seen Sean Anders who has directed the equally raunchy films SEX DRIVE which makes me wonder. Would i have enjoyed the film more had it starred someone else? or am I so hard on It because of who it stars? It's truly a collaboration in as it seems to have a mixture of both star and director styles and humor involved.

While I'm not his biggest fan, I Feel a bit sorry for Andy Samberg whose comedic stylings are more towards a wacky and physical side as here he is more the straight man and set up. A character who never really gets to have his own comedic moments only embarassing ones. The role could have been pales by anyone. Which seems to be more the fault of the witting not the actors. It's like a role or a young Jimmy Fallon or Jason Bateman type.

Adam Sandler is only 12 years older than Andy Samberg, who plays his son in this movie.

Though a sort of return to form. The humor here is quite jarring like your dad or your uncle trying to be hip and relate to your friends. After always shepherding you through life with good advice and teaching you lessons. Now they want to party with you.

While the humor before was juvenile it never seemed as misogynistic and dirty as this film feels, nor did it seem as cruel. This film seems to lose the innocence that his earlier films do. Here when there is any it feels artificial and planned where as in his films before they were just there.

Adam Sandler also seems a little long in the tooth. Here he seems to be second guessing himself to a degree as to what he thinks the youth will like and then at other times feels confident in the wrong things. He still has the talent but he keeps using the same bag of tricks and audiences are starting to get used to it and getting tired of them.

He doesn't seem to want to expand or experiment though he is already successful. He seems to be comfortable despite the fact that his audience is waning and the quality of his films grows weaker even then before when critics tended to hate his films but audiences loved them.

He is reminding me of Eddie Murphy still capable of amazing comedic feats and even dramatic. Even at times still for a moment or two reach the peaks of greatness and talent, but seems fine and comfortable putting in little to no effort into projects that they know are lazy and beneath them.

One of the rare Sandler movies not to make back its budget in domestic release. Shot for $70 million, it grossed $57 million in the USA.

For all it's vileness the film is funny , but it really depends on your tolerance for Adam Sandler. To me most of his films the better ones have a charm and innocence. That while no great masterpieces keep my interest and manage to kale me smile. Though I can understand why certain people might dislike his films.

This is more of a mainstream taste that aims for the fences. It just feels out of character to a degree for Sandler and certainly more sexual than any of his films. With this and BUCKY LARSON: PORN STAR e seems to have found a theme for the year.


Grade: C-