The Waterboy [DVD] [1999]

Bobby's real passion in life is his job as waterboy for the local college football team, a real powerhouse coached by Coach Red Beaulieu (Jerry Reed). When he gets fired, he goes seeking water management employment at South Central Louisiana State University, a legendarily bad team coached by Coach Klein, a very un-Fonzie-like Henry Winkler. When Coach Klein convinces Bobby to defend himself against the taunts of team members, he finds himself looking at a natural-born linebacker. Mama does not want her son playing "foosball," but what Mama does not know won't hurt her (Bobby ingeniously blames all of the cuts and scrapes he acquires during the season on an escaped gorilla). He records a record-shattering sixteen quarterback sacks in his first game, drawing national attention from the real-life sportscasters of ESPN. A magical season unfolds at SCLSU, setting up a Bourbon Bowl meeting of the little college who could and mean old Coach Beaulieu's undefeated championship squad. At this point, certain complications arise, a secret history between Coaches Beaulieu and Klein is revealed, and SCLSU's dream season stands on the point of suddenly becoming a nightmare.

This is not a high-brow comedy, but there is nothing wrong with corny comedy as long as it is funny, and The Waterboy is, to repeat myself, hilarious. Football fans will definitely get a kick out of the way Bobby just destroys his opponents on the field, using several moves that you will not see in the NFL any time soon in the process (certainly not more than once). Perhaps overlooked in the midst of all the comedy is a more serious theme, however. This movie is a story of overcoming obstacles, believing in yourself, and redemption, not just for the ultimate underdog Bobby Boucher but for his mother, Coach Klein, and several other characters. You almost have to feel pumped up and happy in the end, and that counts for a lot in and of itself. Sometimes the good guys do come out on top, or so most of us like to believe in order to get through each day. The Waterboy helps us keep our faith and inspires us to rise above all of the bad things in life and concentrate on such simple yet important matters as family, friendship, love, and always doing your best.

Bobby Boucher (prenounced 'Booshay') is a simple, accademically challenged loner who has a mad obsesion with water. When he is fired from his position as waterboy from the college football team, he to offer his services to the 'Mud Dogs'. When he loses his temper in practice and tackles one of the players, the coach immediately puts him on the team, against the will of his overprotective mama.

The acting in this film is supurb especially from Kathy Bates (Mama), Fairuza Balk (Viki), and Henry Winkler (Coach Klein). However for me it's Sandler who makes the film what it is. His performance is amazing as the stuttering 'simpleton' Bobby Boucher, who represents all the people who have ever been bullied, picked on or made fun of and while his solution to the problem would not be quite so practicalin real life, we can certainly enjoy watching it (and the after affects).

Although this film is extreamly funny there is as i have mentioned earlier a much more serious side to it. This film is about overcoming the odds and believing in yourself enough to that. I'm sure you will agree that Bobby Boucher is an inspiration to us all.

For any fans of Adam Sandler then this movie is a real treat and is a must-have. I promise you, you will laugh harder every time you watch it.