"Silly" doesn't begin to describe it

Rating: Null/10 (23 October 2003)

In this politically-correct addled age, it is good that movies that poke fun of regional/ethnic differences can proliferate. "The Waterboy", however, was just a little too much. Even "Fargo" and "Raising Arizona" were classier and more even-handed than this. The Acadians deserve better.
Bobby Boucher (Adam Sandler) plays a not-so-young flop who is fired from his duties as a waterboy. His mother (Kathy Bates) is controlling and domineering. Bobby then becomes the waterboy for a rival college football team, where the coach (Henry Winkler) recognizes his talent on the gridiron. Bobby's talent manifests itself when he channels his rage for Mama against the opposition. Combine that with endless silly stereotypes, and you have just about summed up "The Waterboy".
On the plus side it is good to see that N.Y. Giants football legend Lawrence Taylor is willing to get a laugh at his own expense (The "don't do drugs" line).
Verdict: If you have had a particularly horrid week at work, and your brain has become mush so that you cannot handle the intellectual level of "The Shawshank Redemption" or even "Police Academy", "The Waterboy" might be just perfect. Also for hard-core Sandler fanciers.
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