Sometimes looking at a new release slate for Blu-rays, one gets the distinct impression that all the good movies have already arrived in the high definition format. I can't believe that's the case — most people can probably tick off two or three dozen films they are waiting to see released to Blu-ray. And yet, before some favorites arrive on Blu-ray we get treated to half-baked fare like Adam Sandler's The Waterboy.
Sandler, most definitely a funny man and an actor who has shown some range in recent years, is not at his best in this Frank Coraci (Click) directed comedy. In the picture, Sandler stars as Bobby Boucher, a man who grew up in backwoods Louisiana. Boucher's only dream in life – his only ambition – is to be a waterboy for a college football team. It's actually a dream that he's already fulfilled at the start of the film, but his hopes are dashed when the coach of the University of Louisiana's football team, Red Beaulieu (Jerry Reed), fires him for distracting the players.
Bobby manages to land a gig, though at a far less prestigious school with a far less prestigious football team run by the far less prestigious Coach Klein (Henry Winkler). Predictably – and the whole thing really is quite predictable – Klein uncovers Bobby's incredible ability to tackle and Bobby ends up leading the hapless team to many victories only to be forced to face Beaulieu and his old squad in the championship game.
Much of the film is spent showing – but never really dissecting or exploring – the uncomfortable relationship Bobby has with his mother, played by a terribly miscast Kathy Bates. Mama Boucher doesn't like Bobby doing anything which might lead to Bobby's deserting her as she was deserted by her husband many a year ago. She does everything from refusing to let Bobby play football – he lies to her and does it anyway – to not letting Bobby date the girl of his dreams, Vicki Vallencourt (Fairuza Balk) – he lies to her and does it anyway... again.
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