That's My Boy: How Not To Do Crossovers

As a fan of both Brooklyn Nine-Nine and many of Adam Sandler's classic comedies, I had high hopes for That’s My Boy. Unfortunately, what unfolded was a disappointing experience that left me questioning the direction of Sandler's career. While a dumb lead can sometimes be the backbone of a hilarious comedy, this film pushes the boundaries of believability to a point where the laughs become scarce.

The premise starts with potential: Sandler plays Donny, a man who, as a teenager, has an inappropriate relationship with his teacher (Eva Amurri Martino). This leads to Donny becoming an unlikely father at the tender age of 13. Fast forward to the present, and we meet Todd (Andy Samberg), Donny’s son, who has managed to escape his father’s chaotic influence and become a successful hedge fund manager. The film's initial setup is promising, but it quickly descends into a series of contrived plot points that fail to deliver genuine humor.

Instead of showcasing the comedic chemistry between Sandler and Samberg, the film relegates Samberg to a straight-man role while Sandler dominates with a distractingly poor Boston accent. His character, Donny, is a caricature of a washed-up rock roadie: vulgar, drunken, and annoying, which makes it hard to root for him. The surrounding cast, including Todd's fiancée Jamie (Leighton Meester) and a host of cameos, do little to elevate the material. In fact, the supporting characters often seem just as foolish as Donny, making the absurdity of the situation even more pronounced.

The film suffers from a lack of logical coherence. For instance, Todd’s engagement party is abruptly disrupted by Donny's crass antics, and yet, instead of being repulsed, everyone seems charmed by him. This is where plausibility flies out the window. Rather than feeling like a believable comedy, it feels like a string of outrageous sketches that never coalesce into something coherent.

The humor often veers into the territory of tired clichés—fart jokes, penis gags, and an overreliance on shock value. It feels like Sandler is recycling the same tired formulas that worked in his earlier films but without the heart that made them memorable. While there are a few moments of genuine humor, they are overshadowed by the barrage of juvenile jokes that fall flat. The one standout performance comes from Vanilla Ice, who plays a caricature of himself, bringing a surprising amount of humor to the film. However, when the funniest moment is delivered by a cameo rather than the film's stars, it underscores a significant problem.

In a genre that often thrives on character development and emotional resonance, That’s My Boy feels like a missed opportunity. While there are brief glimpses of potential, such as the father-son relationship dynamic, the execution falls short. By the end of the film, the only thing I was left with was a sense of fatigue from Sandler's relentless antics and a longing for the cleverness of his earlier work.

To sum it up, That’s My Boy is a rambling, incoherent film that lacks the humor and charm of Sandler’s classic hits. It’s a stark reminder that not all collaborations lead to success, and that sometimes, even the most promising premises can fall flat. I award this film 2 out of 10 stars. Sandler's comedic prowess deserves better, and I hope to see a return to form in future projects.