Amiable comedy

Rating: Null/10 (17 July 2002)

Longtime waterboy Booby Boucher is fired from his job with the Cougar's and finds himself 31 years old and separated from his passion for generating the perfect glass of water. He joins the losing team, the Muddogs and his reaction to bullying impresses the coach so much he joins him up as a defender without Bobby's Mama knowing. Can he go all the way  and more importantly can he make friends?
While most of Sandler's stuff is crass, crude and unfunny his best two films have seen him play losers who are sympathetic because they are quite simple. Here is one of his best so far  a simple comedy that mixes physical comedy with some good jokes and asides. The plot doesn't matter but the telling is refreshingly free of cruel jokes or really crude jokes and is actually quite amiable.
Sandler manages to not be annoying (shock). He almost manages to be understated and subtle! Bobby is really good and you can't help but root for him. Likewise Winkler is really good as the timid coach for similar reasons. Bates is good value as Mama simply because she is over the top and very funny. Balk is sexy and pretty funny, while cameos from Rob Schneider and Clint Howard are funny for the first few times but not for long. Various faces from American foosball make it interesting but didn't really do it for me.
Overall it may not be great and may well be pretty basic but you really can't help but be charmed by it. Remarkably amiable fare from someone not known for their gentle comedy.