Billy Madison [HD] DVD

Billy Madison
Master of infantilism Adam Sandler stars as the title character, an overgrown rich kid who wiles away his days poolside, swilling kegs of beer and appreciating fine nudie magazines such as "Drunk Chicks" -- that is, until his father (Darren McGavin) decides to test his mettle as future head of the family business by posing a challenge: retake and pass grades K-12 in 24 weeks or watch control of the business pass to the requisite conniving underling (Bradley Whitford). Forced into action, Billy vows to change his drunken ways. He enrolls in kindergarten, makes new friends, pelts pint-sized kids with playground balls and develops a love interest in a pretty teacher (Bridgitte Wilson). The action culminates in an academic showdown between Billy and the purportedly Harvard-educated underling for the future of the family enterprise -- no small feat for a man fresh out of the first grade. There's gross, moronic, off-color low humor galore in Billy Madison, particularly in one subplot involving a romantically forward elementary school principal (Josh Mostel, son of theater great Zero Mostel) and his secret former life as a professional wrestler; another scene includes the hypertense school bus driver (Chris Farley, in a typical over-the-top cameo) lying in the meadow with a hallucinatory penguin. As one might suspect, Billy Madison is not for every taste; Sandler fans will laugh from start to finish; others beware. ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide

Cast Adam Sandler as Billy Madison Darren McGavin as Brian Madison Bridgette Wilson as Veronica Bradley Whitford as Eric Gordon Josh Mostel as Max Anderson

Crew Gordon M. Barnes - Art Director Jack Giarraputo - Associate Producer Todd Thaler - Casting Jaki Brown-Karman - Casting Deirdre Bowen - Casting Martin Walters - First Assistant Director David Vaughan - First Assistant Director Tamra Davis - Director Jeffery Wolf - Editor Fitch Cady - Executive Producer Randy Edelman - Composer (Music Score) Allan Byer - Musical Direction/Supervision Harald Ortenburger - Camera Operator Perry Andelin Blake - Production Designer Victor Hammer - Cinematographer Robert Simonds - Producer Enrico Campana - Set Designer Adam Sandler - Screenwriter Tim Herlihy - Screenwriter

Billy Madison
Assuming top billing for the first time in this willfully stunted comedy, Adam Sandler unleashed the soon-familiar persona that would widely divide moviegoers but provide indisputable results at the box office for years to come. Here was born the debate about whether Sandler is a lowbrow comic genius or a moronic gadfly signifying the end of good taste and intelligence as we know it. For those able to give themselves over to its sophomoric charms, Billy Madison is a knee-slapping celebration of a spoiled idiot who learns decency from a gaggle of children who wet their pants at recess. Sure, Sandler is over the top -- in fact, he's so far over it that it's nowhere in sight. But that's the point in this movie, in which Sandler is essentially the mean-spirited version of Tom Hanks' character in Big, throwing tantrums appropriate to someone of his underdeveloped intellect. It's hard to resist Sandler when he yells, "You blew it!" in his trademark guttural shout after his eight-year-old friend botches a phone conversation with his crush. The reverse shot shows the young boy grinning in spite of himself, suggesting that children accept Sandler as he is, a ridiculous but ultimately harmless clown, and perhaps they're the best judges of character. Those who want Sandler to be something other than an intense, bellowing man-child -- or just wish he would go away -- aren't the intended audience, anyway. Simpatico supporting turns by Norm McDonald, Steve Buscemi, and Chris Farley provide either more giggles for the willing or more ammo for the obstinate. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
 

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General Specifications: Language Options: English, French Subtitle Options: English, French Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel DD2: Dolby Digital Stereo Additional Features: Over 25 Minutes of the Most Awesome Deleted Scenes, Which Include Billy at Home, School Days, Eric and Principal Anderson and So Much More! Outrageous Outtakes and Side-Splitting Goof-Ups That Will Have You Laughing Out Loud Get the Whole Hilarious Story With Exclusive Feature Commentary From Director Tamra Davis. DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1: Theatre Wide-Screen MPAA Rating: PG13 DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: Content Length: 90 min