Big Daddy (1999 film)

Big Daddy is a 1999 American comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan and starring Adam Sandler and the Sprouse twins. The film was produced by Adam Sandler, Allen Covert and Jack Giarraputo, where it opened #1 at the box office with a $41,536,370 first weekend as well as a score of 41% on Metacritic. It was also Adam Sandler's 12th film. It was produced by Out of the Blue... Entertainment and Jack Giarraputo Productions and distributed by Columbia Pictures. It was also released on June 25, 1999.
==Plot==
Sonny Koufax (Adam Sandler) is an unreliable, unmotivated bachelor who lives in New York City and has declined to take on adult responsibility. He has a degree in law but has chosen not to take the bar exam since he was awarded $200,000 in a vehicle accident compensation 2 years prior, and lives off his restitution. He works one day a week as a tollbooth attendant.
Finally having enough of Sonny's refusing to grow up, his girlfriend, Vanessa (Kristy Swanson), tells Sonny that she is going to break up with him unless he can prove to her that he can be a responsible adult. His roommate, Kevin Gerrity (Jon Stewart), decides to ask his podiatrist girlfriend Corinne (Leslie Mann) to marry him the day before he is leaving for China for his law firm. Sonny constantly teases Corinne, especially about her former occupation as a Hooters' waitress.
Sonny awakens to find five-year-old Julian (Cole and Dylan Sprouse) abandoned at his and Kevin's apartment, with a written explanation that Julian's mother is now declining to care further for Julian, and that Kevin is his biological father. Kevin denies fatherhood to Julian, and Sonny offers to handle it until he returns from China. Sonny poses as Kevin, intending to use Julian as a means to win Vanessa back. However, when Sonny introduces Julian to Vanessa, he finds out that she has already moved on and is now dating a much older man, Sid (Geoffrey Horne), who seems more mature and career-oriented, even having a "5-year plan".
Sonny then takes Julian to his social worker, Arthur Brooks (Josh Mostel), telling him that Julian should return to his mother. Brooks tells Sonny that Julian's mother had died of cancer, thus explaining why she sent Julian to be with Kevin. He tells Sonny that they could take Julian, but he would have to live in a group home/orphanage. Sonny offers to keep Julian temporarily until Brooks finds a foster home for Julian. Sonny then calls his father, Lenny (Joseph Bologna), who is one of Florida's most respected lawyers, and is berated upon informing his father of his situation. After a conversation with Julian, Sonny decides to raise Julian his own way, giving Julian options instead of orders to let Julian decide for himself, all while teaching Julian new things such as baseball and pro wrestling. Julian also helps Sonny get a potential new girlfriend in Layla (Joey Lauren Adams), Corinne's sister, who is also a lawyer.
Soon, Brooks leaves messages for Sonny, having found a foster home for Julian, and becomes concerned when unable to contact Sonny. Later, at a meeting at Julian's school, the teacher tells Sonny that Julian has taken up many bad habits of Sonny's, which causes him to rethink his parenting methods. He is able to turn himself and Julian around, but then Brooks arrives, having learned that Sonny has been posing as Kevin. He orders Sonny to surrender Julian to social services to avoid arrest. Sonny reluctantly gives Julian up and then promptly arranges a court case to determine Julian's future.
In court, with himself and Layla as his counsels, numerous people that Sonny knows testify, telling the judge that he is a suitable father. Even Corinne, who harbors a deep hatred for Sonny, admits that he cares for Julian. Julian testifies as well, revealing relevant information regarding his original heritage. As a final straw, Sonny calls himself to the stand and asks his father, who is attending as well, to question him. Despite Lenny's gruff assertion that Sonny is not father material, Sonny quietly tells Lenny that the only reason he is doing this is because Lenny is scared that Sonny will fail. Sonny assures him that he will not fail, because he loves Julian the same way Lenny loves him. Moved by Sonny's sincerity, Lenny vouches for Sonny as well.
Nonetheless, the judge is unconvinced and orders Sonny's arrest. Kevin, who connects Julian's testimony with a drunken fling he had during the 1993 World Series, realizes that he is Julian's biological father, apologizes to Corinne, and insists they drop the charges; custody is granted to Kevin (pending DNA results). Julian tearfully hugs Sonny, wanting Sonny to be his father. Sonny promises Julian that he will always be his friend and he will always consider Julian part of his family. With that Sonny hands Julian off to Kevin, watching the two slowly start to bond.
One year, three months, and six days later, Sonny is revealed to have turned his life around. He is now a lawyer, is married to Layla, and they have a child of their own. He has amended with Kevin, Julian, and even Corinne. At Sonny's surprise birthday party at a Hooters restaurant, Sonny finds Vanessa working there as a waitress, with Sid working as a cook, revealing that Sid's "five-year-plan" has gone awry.
==Cast==
* Adam Sandler as Sonny Koufax
* Cole and Dylan Sprouse as Julian 'Frankenstein' McGrath
* Joey Lauren Adams as Layla Maloney
* Jon Stewart as Kevin Gerrity
* Leslie Mann as Corinne Maloney
* Rob Schneider as Nazo
* Jonathan Loughran as Mike
* Allen Covert as Phil D'Amato
* Peter Dante as Tommy Grayton
* Kristy Swanson as Vanessa
* Joseph Bologna as Lenny Koufax
* Steve Buscemi as Homeless Guy
* Josh Mostel as Arthur Brooks
* Edmund Lyndeck as Mr. Herlihy
* Geoffrey Horne as Sid
* Harold O'Lena as Scuba Steve
== Iconic Quote ==
"Will somebody get this kid a happy meal!?"
Category:1999 films
Category:1990s comedy films
Category:American comedy films
Category:American films
Category:English-language films
Category:Films directed by Dennis Dugan
Category:Films produced by Adam Sandler
Category:Films about adoption
Category:Films set in New York City
Category:Films shot in New York City
Category:Films distributed by Columbia Pictures
Category:Screenplays by Adam Sandler
Category:Screenplays by Tim Herlihy
Category:1990s films
Category:Columbia Pictures films
Category:Adam Sandler films
Category:Rated PG-13
Category:Comedy
Category:Drama