It's difficult to believe now, but there was a time in my life when Adam Sandler was the nexus of my comedy universe. Just about everything I thought was funny revolved around the Bafoon, Tollbooth Willy, and Herlihy Boy. The teenage me revered him, which is why I struggle with 100% dismissing the guy despite all his recent efforts to convince me to do so.
So on the brink of the Happy Madison crew attempting to use their formulaic unfunniness to derail Andy Samberg's film career before it even gets started, I took a look back at Sandler's entire motion picture catalog. The goal was to determine which Sandler movies you should be able to reference and admit to seeing -- not necessarily enjoying, but seeing -- in blog comments and whatnot without getting lambasted on the internet for supporting the creation of Jack & Jill and Tonka Truck feature films.
Obviously the list I came up with is subjective and somewhat arbitrary, but I'm sure there are a ton of you out there who know all the words to "At a Medium Pace" and suffer from the same Sandler-related internal conflict that I do. So without further ado, in chronological order...
Airheads was, for all intents and purposes, Sandler's big screen debut, and anyone who had "They're All Going to Laugh at You" memorized made it a must see. Is it particularly funny or good or even coherent? No. But it does feature heavy metal Steve Buscemi and Brendan Fraser in one of his many forgettable roles that make him an ironic favorite of a generation.
Billy Madison is the movie that taught me repeat viewings in the company of friends can turn something middling into an all-time classic. If you can't quote five lines off the top of your head we can't be friends.
Happy Gilmore is just a good comedy. Shooter McGavin remains my all-time favorite movie villain who eats pieces of sh*t for breakfast.
Bulletproof is terrible. There's no denying this. But Sandler was fresh off Happy Gilmore and there's no shame in having seen it (even multiple times). Also, this pick-up routine is a winner.
Everyone saw The Wedding Singer. Everyone bought the soundtrack or knows someone who did. It made for a solid rom-com compromise (if you're into significant others) and 80's humor is like Nic Cage humor: can't miss. Also, Harold would never beat up his landlord.
The Happy Madison crew learned they could make more money by trying less with The Waterboy. It's unwatchable as far as I'm concerned, but for some reason there are people whose opinions I respect who revere it.
We've all seen it. We all have questions about Leslie Mann's boobs. We're all in this together.
A critically-acclaimed film with solid efforts from all involved. If you've never seen Philip Seymour Hoffman absolutely eat it while filming the Mattress Man commercial now is the time...
Hard to believe we may soon be discussing how this has been bastardized. Also porn star January Jones.
The 2009 film we all hoped would be Sandler's return to actually trying. Alas, despite a great cast, a return to hardcore standup, lampooning Sandler's actual career, and being legitimately good -- although LONG -- Judd Apatow's Funny People flopped at the box office and sent Sandler on a mission to appeal to the lowest common denominator in a fashioin Rob Schneider couldn't even imagine. And it's only getting worse. NSFW audio.
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For me “Little Nicky” is when it all went off the rails.
“I’M ON MY KNEES. PRETTY, PRETTY PLEASE. KILL ME. I WANT TO DIE. PUT A BULLET IN MY HEAD.” Sandler’s single greatest moment, made all the better by Lovitz saying, “He’s losing his mind…and I’m reaping all the benefits.”
Was dangerously close to using this GIF but the quality is sh*t.
That whole scene is comedy perfection, and nobody has to get hit in the nuts.
I’m gonna say it until I die, “Little Nicky” its an awesome awesome movie, so is Mr. Deeds.
I blame Rob Schneider and his daughters.
And the first Little Nicky evangelist emerges.
I take Deeds over Bulletproof strictly on the sneakiness of Emilio Lopez.
He should just stop.
What I’d like to know is who are the people surrounding Adam Sandler that are telling him his ideas are good? Because you know those people exist.
you are right about waterboy. horrible. why are all of apatow’s movies about 30 minutes too long? and, thank god we saw l. mann’s jugs in the change-up.
I agree that because my adolescence revolved around Sandler’s hay-day that it’s tough to view his films without a little bias. Besides the heavy-hitters like Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore I thought the likes of Big Daddy and Mr. Deeds were great and Anger Management went far below the radar. Sandler’s ability to be able to charm amongst absurd plot lines and ridiculous characters seems to get me 78.9% percent of the time
Don’t underestimate America’s love of gibberish.
Waterboy and Happy Gilmore FTW!!!!!
No Spanglish? I loved that movie.. oh wait, is my girl showing?
Splanglish not making the list has more to do with having to reference Spanglish and less to do with it being an Adam Sandler movie. It’s certainly not a bad movie.
Billy Madison is and always will be hilarious. There’s a big nostalgia factor there, but still.
He’s losing his mind… and I’m reaping all the benefits…
/curtain closes
Pleased to meet you, Kitty, or should I say.. meOW!
Keep it in your pants, Anderson!
Mr Deeds is the best
Waterboy was awesome. Especially when you were a dumbass 11 year old like me.
Anyone else notice lately that all of Sandler’s characters are super awesome dudes that bang super hot chicks? He went from lovable schlub to how millionaire hot shot.
This probably doesn’t counts since he actually wasn’t in it, but I think “Grandma’s Boy” is an incredibly quoteable movie and the last decent Happy Madison production before that crew went off on the deep end. My college friends and I still quote a lot of Nick Swadson’s lines.
I remember when I was 11-12 years old (1995-96) all I ever heard about was Adam Sandler. I never found him, or Madison/Gilmore as funny movies. These days I find them funny more for nostalgia, but just like M. Night Shamalama-dingdong, it always makes me laugh when 10-12 years later people finally realize that the person they used to never shut up about isn’t really as great as they thought he was.
First off, you’re that guy.
Second, say what you want about M. Night Shayamalan (and I have, believe me), but the Sixth Sense was still an incredible movie the first time you saw it, and Unbreakable is still one of the better comic book movies made before the current renaissance of Nolan and the Marvelverse.
Green jacket, gold jacket, who gives a shit?
any question about leslie mann was answered in the change up. thank you sirs.
Those were CGIed, AFAIK.
i don’t care what anybody says. Don’t Mess With The Zohan was a classic.
Sandler peaked with The Goat. It doesn’t get any better than that.
“OWWWWW!!! FUCK ME IN THE GOAT ASS!!!”
“I got fucking no dukes, old man.”
They fucking superimposed me
I think “Rated Argh for Pirates….Fuck You” was terribly underrated.
Reign Over Me, assholes.
I won’t watch Billy Madison or Happy Gilmore anymore out of the fear that I’ll think they suck.
I think I subconsciously do the same thing. Weird you just made me realize it.
Watched Billy Madison a couple days ago. It is still awesome.
love this song,
YOU’RE GONNA DIE, CLOWN!
O’Doyle Rules!!!
funny people was great up until that last hour.. god i wanted to kill myself repeatedly during those last 60 minutes
Every now and then an Adam Sandler reference is necessary
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