I rewatched Billy Madison, and there’s still a lot to love (despite all the ways it was bad)

Billy Madison is a classic Adam Sandler comedy and despite some parts of it not aging the best, the film still stands against most modern comedies. Overall ranked among the top-rated Adam Sandler movies, Billy Madison is possibly one of the first of his films I remember watching. The viewing probably took place in a friend’s basement, with my parents unaware because, as some recent Sandler fans may not know, His comedies tend to be much more mature As his recent crop of family-targeted movies would suggest.

The movie stars Sandler as the titular Billy Madison, a spoiled man-child who, rather than preparing to take over his father’s company, spends his days drinking and carousing with his friends. However, it is revealed Billy never finished school or high school and was sent back to the classroom to receive his diplomas. It’s a wacky premise, and thanks to Sandler’s hilarious commitment, it works wonders. This was the beginning of my and many others’ love affair with Sandler’s rage-filled character, and beyond a hitch or two in the story, It still makes me laugh the whole time.

Billy Madison’s plot rooting for a Nepo baby hasn’t aged well

The villain of the film is a hard-working employee

I don’t think the term “Nepo Baby” was in the consciousness back in 1995, but in the 2020s when someone as beloved as Jamie Lee Curtis gets the side eye for being the daughter of Janet Leigh, the Billy Madison Plot does feel a bit contrived. Billy is the rich CEO of a father whose only prerequisite for inheriting his company is that Billy graduates high school. The villain of the film is Eric Gordon (Bradley Whitford), whose crime seems to be working hard for his position and asking to be rewarded for his years of service to Madison Hotels. hmm…

Of course, Eric isn’t exactly the best guy, though Are we really supposed to be rooting for the spoiled, lazy Billy Who cannot keep his anger in check despite everything in his life handed to him? Even Billy’s dad, Brian (Brian McGavin), seems happy to give his company away to Eric if Billy can’t get through school. Eric eventually proves he’s a pretty bad guy, but even then, Billy Madison Means to say that even if you work for something, the son of the owner comes first.

Billy Madison still has some of the funniest moments in any Sandler movie

This is one of the most quotable Sandler movies

Despite the somewhat backward characterization between the “hero” Billy and the “villain” Eric, Billy Madison is much more interested in making the audience laugh than it is in depicting some treatise on capitalism, loyalty and fairness. in this matter, The movie holds up incredibly well And there are still dozens of well-known quotable scenes in Billy Madison Which make me laugh just as hard today as they did when I first heard them. It’s almost an affliction that I can’t see a swan without quietly muttering,”Keep looking at me, swan.”

The movie’s overall message about self-improvement holds up

Billy Madison is working hard to show that he is more than just a layabout

Despite the very low stakes of Billy Madison and the absurdity of the characters and premise, It still has a sweet message about self-improvement. When we meet Billy, he is more or less wasting away his life, whiling away the days in his pool while everything is taken care of for him. Then, when given one last chance to make something of himself, he decided to take it.

There is something that inspires me about Billy’s willingness to “lower” himself to improve. It’s a pretty egoless move on his part and makes the character that much more likable. Billy Madison May have some flaws, but the idea that you can always get right back on the horse, no matter your age (or temperament), is not one of them.