That’s My Boy
Release year: 2012
My Rating: ★½ out of 5
Tagline: The story of a child… and his son.
Synopsis: While in his teens, Donny fathered a son, Todd, 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 when Donny resurfaces just before Todd’s wedding.
That's My Boy might be my most hated Adam Sandler movie. But also I kinda like it. I'll explain.
This movie makes me so angry, and it all has to do with the premise. I hate that pedophilia is just a part of this movie. And not only that, but it is somewhat glorified. I can see an argument that it isn't, but whenever it is referenced that child Adam Sandler slept with his teacher, everyone in the movie cheers him on. Maybe it's supposed to portray how our society will enable pedophilia with many thinking they'd like to live Sandler's life. And it clearly ruins his life too. He is stuck in his teens and the movie actively shows the negative affects sleeping with his teacher had on his life, but, I don't know. I don't like that it's played for laughs.
I remember when I was 19 sitting in my mom's hotel room when this movie began on HBO. I was like, "what the hell is this? I hate it!" I was a little bit curious about where it was going and then I saw it was an Adam Sandler movie, and I was like "Okay, I'm out of here".
But here's the thing. Despite all of that and how much I feel that on paper this makes it a terrible movie, I thought this movie was actually really fun. And probably the funniest Adam Sandler movie since Little Nicky. God, I wish it was a different movie that made me laugh this hard, but, alas, That's My Boy did it for me.
I think you can trust me here. Knowing what I did about this movie before I watched it, I went in wanting to hate it. But nearly everything after the first 15 minutes proved me wrong. All of us were having a blast. I didn't think I would like the Vanilla Ice cameo either, but he's one of the best of any Sandler movie. It's just fun and everyone in the room was as shocked as I was.
I like how silly Sandler is in this movie and how both awful and endearing he is. I love Andy Samberg for all that he is. I think Vanilla Ice is so funny and a pleasant surprise. I'm sorry everyone. I like That's My Boy, and despite everything in the world working against it, it somehow makes it into my top 10 favorite Sandler movies. Never would I call this movie good, and it aggravates the hell out of me, but, somehow, I would recommend.
