This movie follows the homeless and unwanted Julian (acted by the twins Cole & Dylan Sprouse) as he trys to find a dad. The target of his affection is Sonny (Adam Sandler) who acts and lives as if he was a 12 year old boy himself.
Needless to say, movies like this have happy and predictable endings. The fun is in getting there, in seeing Sonny who initially rejects taking in Julian turn into a father in the end. With many hilarious adventures along the way, most based on bathroom humour.
The twins have that waif look so necessary for movies on this theme. Blonde, with big eyes, and ears that stick out, Julian is the boy to open the hardest heart. Who could resist such an attractive waif? Who wouldn't wish him success in finding a dad?
The girls certainly can't. For Adam discovers that girls like men who are fathers, and they like the little kid too. Julian helps Adam to win his girl, so finding himself a dad and a mom.
Three comparable movies come to mind. Similar themes, of a homeless and unwanted child finding a dad, but all treated in a more serious fashion. None of them are comedies like Big Daddy, though they all have comic moments.
In 1934, "Bright Eyes" starred Shirley Temple as Shirley, the little orphan girl. Shirley loses her mother to a car accident, and her father to an aeroplane crash. Her father's best friend, Loop Merritt (James Dunn, who was almost as famous an actor as Shirley Temple) becomes her new dad. Like Sonny, he starts out reluctantly in the dad role, and becomes converted to this position.
In 1980, "The Earthling" starred Ricky Schroder as Shawn, the 10 year old boy orphaned by a crash of his family's motorhome in the Australian bush. He is found by Patrick Foley (William Holden, in one of his best roles), who is fatally ill and not looking for a companion. Neither does Shawn particularly want a father, but he needs someone to look after him in the wilderness. See the two warm to each other, ending in a dad-son relationship.
In 1998, "Goodnight Mister Tom" starred Nick Robinson as Willie, and John Thaw as Tom Oakley. Willie is evacuated from wartime London to Tom's village, and billeted with the crotchety old man. Willie's mom is killed during the Blitz. The two develop a trust in each other, and recognize the benefit of a love between them. Each fills a need in the other's life.
Needless to say, movies like this have happy and predictable endings. The fun is in getting there, in seeing Sonny who initially rejects taking in Julian turn into a father in the end. With many hilarious adventures along the way, most based on bathroom humour.
The twins have that waif look so necessary for movies on this theme. Blonde, with big eyes, and ears that stick out, Julian is the boy to open the hardest heart. Who could resist such an attractive waif? Who wouldn't wish him success in finding a dad?
The girls certainly can't. For Adam discovers that girls like men who are fathers, and they like the little kid too. Julian helps Adam to win his girl, so finding himself a dad and a mom.
Three comparable movies come to mind. Similar themes, of a homeless and unwanted child finding a dad, but all treated in a more serious fashion. None of them are comedies like Big Daddy, though they all have comic moments.
In 1934, "Bright Eyes" starred Shirley Temple as Shirley, the little orphan girl. Shirley loses her mother to a car accident, and her father to an aeroplane crash. Her father's best friend, Loop Merritt (James Dunn, who was almost as famous an actor as Shirley Temple) becomes her new dad. Like Sonny, he starts out reluctantly in the dad role, and becomes converted to this position.
In 1980, "The Earthling" starred Ricky Schroder as Shawn, the 10 year old boy orphaned by a crash of his family's motorhome in the Australian bush. He is found by Patrick Foley (William Holden, in one of his best roles), who is fatally ill and not looking for a companion. Neither does Shawn particularly want a father, but he needs someone to look after him in the wilderness. See the two warm to each other, ending in a dad-son relationship.
In 1998, "Goodnight Mister Tom" starred Nick Robinson as Willie, and John Thaw as Tom Oakley. Willie is evacuated from wartime London to Tom's village, and billeted with the crotchety old man. Willie's mom is killed during the Blitz. The two develop a trust in each other, and recognize the benefit of a love between them. Each fills a need in the other's life.