That’s My Boy – Funny-ish, but wrong on so many levels

After sweeping the Razzie Awards with last year’s Jack & Jill (which I still say isn’t as bad as everyone makes it out to be), Adam Sandler returns to the realm of the R-rated comedy with his latest, That’s My Boy. Let’s get one thing clear right off the bat — Big Daddy this isn’t.

Sandler plays Donnie Berger, a guy who got famous as a kid for … umm … having relations with his school teacher (Eva Amurri Martino). The relationship results in a pregnancy, a 30-year jail term for Miss McGarricle, and full custody of the baby when Donnie turns 18 (his dad has custody until then … and he’s not happy about it). Flash-forward to the present, and Donnie has spent all of the money gained from his notoriety, is facing jail time over $43,000 in back taxes, and his son Han Solo Berger (Andy Samberg) has changed his name to Todd Peterson and tells everyone his parents died in an explosion. Desperate for cash, Donnie cooks up a plan with old pal Randall Morgan (Dan Patrick), a tabloid TV producer, that will lure Todd to a reunion with his dad and mom in prison, giving Donnie a $50,000 payday. Donnie just has to find a way to weasel himself back into Todd’s life. As luck would have it, Todd is about to be married, so Donnie shows up out of the blue as Todd’s best friend in the whole world. Comedy ensues as Todd tries to keep Donnie’s identity a secret from his well-to-do soon-to-be wife and in-laws, but they somehow manage to form a bond until Todd realizes he was just a pawn in Donnie’s money-making scheme.

That’s My Boy is a really difficult film to discuss without giving too much away, because there are some totally off-the-wall twists in the plot that really push the levels of taste. The whole premise crosses the line right from the beginning, and Sandler and crew throw in one more shocking turn of events after another until they get to the final “okay, you’ve really gone too far” plot twist. Seriously, it really goes too far. I think I’m still in a little bit of shock that they even went there, and it almost undoes all of the other funny things that came before it. Of course, most of the biggest laughs come from Sandler’s ability to cast all of his friends in his movies. It’s become more fun to see who’s going to pop up next: Vanilla Ice, Tony Orlando, Todd Bridges (who gets one of the biggest laughs in the movie), Dan Patrick and the Danettes, Erin Andrews, Will Forte, Rachel Dratch, Nick Swardson, Luenell, Ana Gasteyer, Colin Quinn, Alan Thicke, Ian Ziering, Dennis Dugan, and Rex Ryan. I won’t spoil who shows up to play Miss McGarricle 30 years later, but there was some inspired casting with the role.

There’s not much I can say about Sandler. You either love his schtick or you hate it, and in this one he’s using that annoying scratchy voice that I hate. But it didn’t bug me too much this time. I really liked Andy Samberg’s performance and all of the little neurotic ticks he brings to Todd, his pent up frustrations, and his ultimate release as he finally accepts who he is. Sandler can be totally goofy and over-the-top, but here he gets to act his character with his multitude of quirks but he never goes too far. I was totally surprised by Leighton Meester. I haven’t watched Gossip Girl in ages, so I was shocked to see her all grown up. She plays Jamie, Todd’s fiancee, as a really down to earth girl and still manages to keep up the persona even when her secrets are brought to light. And I just loved Milo Ventimiglia as her brother Chad, a Marine who has a couple of big secrets of his own, but Ventimiglia plays that hardcore military man to the hilt.

But is the movie funny? I can’t say I laughed out loud more than once or twice, but I did chuckle a lot … uncomfortably at times. I’m no stranger to comedies that go for the shock value — I am from Baltimore, after all [waves in John Waters‘ direction] — and I’m no prude, but that last little twist still makes me feel a bit icky (I’m surprised the studio even signed off on it). Your appreciation for the movie will depend on your tolerance for Sandler and your level of taste.

Clacked by Chuck Duncan
on Jun 15, 2012 @ 01:00 EST5EDT