Billy Madison
To the majority of college students, the phrase "going back to school" might mean getting a Masters degree or a Ph.D. To everyone else, it could mean getting a GED or going to a two- or four-year college. Twenty-eight-year-old Billy Madison is going back to school; however, he's going ALL the way back ... to first grade. Starring Adam Sandler, Billy Madison became one of 1995's biggest comic hits and (prepare yourself for a bad pun) sent its star's career into orbit.
Brian Madison has a problem. He is retiring soon, but he's not sure who should receive control of his hotel chain -- his competent vice-president Eric Gordon or his goofball son Billy, who couldn't get through school without Daddy Deepwallet's help. Billy proposes a deal; if he can spend two weeks in each grade, from first grade to senior year in high school, Billy will receive the family business.
While fulfilling his part of the deal, Billy encounters a strange group of teachers, students, custodians, lunch ladies, and field trip guides. Billy reaches high school, thanks to moral support of some new friends and a hot 3rd grade teacher named Veronica Vaughn. Little does Billy know that Eric Gordon is plotting for his failure.
This movie is definitely worth adding to a video collection, due to its vast collection of memorable scenes and witty quotes. Here are some of my favorite scenes, but be mindful that they are funnier in the movie than they are typed.
1) When Billy enters the 1st grade classroom, he is greeted by a youngster, Scottie, who asks him, "Hey, mister! Guess what my favorite food is. Beans!" Scottie proceeds to walk around Billy while making armpit farts. The teacher approaches the two males and remarks, "Scottie likes beans, don't you, Scottie?"
2) Billy and his friends love to prank his neighbor Old Man Clemens by placing burning bags of excrement in front of his door, so he will stomp it out with his feet. In the movie, Clemens smells his boot after a successful execution and yells out, "It's POOP again! When I get you damn kids for this, you're all gonna DIE!" From a distance, Billy exclaims, "He called the shit 'poop,'" and then doubles over in laughter.
3) On a field trip, Billy's friend Ernie has an accident in his pants. Billy splashes the front of his own pants with well water and then tells the other kids that peeing in one's pants is cool. The geriatric guide chimes in, "If peeing in your pants is cool, consider me Miles Davis."
Some critics may accuse Sandler of playing one role in every movie, and I'm still waiting for the relevance of their argument. While you're busy scrambling to see every 2002 Academy Award nominee, take some time for Billy Madison. After all, goofiness can be good sometimes.
Send any comments/ feedback to the author.
Billy is drunk in the first scene. What more could you ask for?!?
The romantic subplot between Veronica and Billy is cute, but immature comedies might not impress the ladies.
Buy this film from Amazon.com
Buy This Poster At AllPosters.com
Buy This Photo At AllPosters.com
Related Articles:
1) Happy Gilmore
2) The Wedding Singer
3) Punch-Drunk Love
4) Old School
5) Back To School
