The Film
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
Whether or not you like Billy Madison will depend on your threshold for all things Adam Sandler. Considered the launching point of his varied career, this one finds Sandler at possibly his all-time stupidest. He makes faces, talks in a funny voice, sings, and has words with a penguin (no, really).
Sandler stars as the title character, a spoiled rich kid who spends his days getting wasted by his swimming pool. To prove that he can run his father's (Darren McGavin) company, he makes a bet that he can complete 12 grades in just 24 weeks. If he flunks, the company goes to equally spoiled, not-as-rich Eric (Bradley Whitford).
It's not the funniest comedy. It's not even the funniest Adam Sandler comedy. However, Billy Madison is a guilty pleasure, with an enormous following. It also has Norm MacDonald, Chris Farley and Steve Buscemi rounding out the cast for a fairly entertaining 90 minutes. Still, if you're not a fan of Sandler's slapstick, you'll most likely find this movie intolerable before the end of the opening credits.
The Picture
Like the actual film, Billy Madison's image is hardly a great work of art. Considering the fact that this is one of Sandler's first films (and from the mid-'90s), it doesn't look half-bad. Black levels are decent, as is the detail. The colors are the film's strongest suit, though. Grade school probably didn't seem all that cheery when you were dreading third period dodgeball. Here, it has a very bold palette. Without a doubt, the best moments are when the action is outside, especially during Billy's many post-grade parties.
The Sound
Billy Madison's DTS-HD Master Audio track is pretty much what you'd expect from a comedy. The ambient sounds are fleeting, with the occasional chirp from crickets and birds, as well as kiddie chatter. The film's main focus is on dialogue, which is crystal clear. The score sounds fine, but the biggest disappointment is the delivery of Sandler's trademark collection of music. This was the birth of what was to be a series of Sandler movies with an eclectic '80s selection. Sonic glimpses of Culture Club, Billy Squire, The Ramones, Electric Light Orchestra, Styx, The Cars and others are sometimes brief, and don't always make it through the entire soundfield.
The Extras
"Chlorophyll? More like BOREophyll."
There's no Snack Pack here. Universal's crop of special features isn't unique or special, for that matter. Director Tamra Davis (Half Baked) does a fairly mellow solo commentary. Also, Sandler doesn't appear in anything outside of what was left on the cutting room floor, which includes a gag reel and almost 33 minutes of deleted scenes.
Final Thoughts
"I am the smartest man alive!"
OK -- Billy Madison is far from rocket science. If you enter into an Adam Sandler movie, you enter at your own risk. It's certainly not his best, but the Blu-ray is probably the best this film will ever get, despite the lack of extras. Still, fans will appreciate the decent presentation and will want this one for repeat chuckles on the big screen at home.
Product Details
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