BILLY MADISON

US, 1995, 89 minutes, Colour.
Adam Sandler, Darren Mc Gavin.
Directed by Tamra Davis.

Billy Madison was one of a number of comedies from the mid '90s which followed in the line of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure as well as Wayne's World. However, they were not nearly as funny as these. In fact, at times, they were fairly moronic. Billy Madison is an example of the more moronic type of comedy (along with such Chris Farley films as Tommy Boy and Paulie Shaw's films).

The film stars Adam Sandler from Saturday Night Live. He also co-wrote the screenplay. Sandler had also appeared with Brendan Fraser in Airheads. Compared with actors like Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler fares very poorly. Billy Madison is a spoilt 27-year-old who wastes his father's money. His father decides to leave his business to his associate and Billy has to go back to school. There are attempts at comedy as Billy goes through the motions with the children at school. Naturally, Billy changes and there is some hope that he will also go to college and finally take over the business. Darren McGavin? appears as Billy Madison's father.

The film was directed by Tamra Davis, who also directed the effective thriller, Gun Crazy.

1.The popularity of this kind of `moronic' comedy? The impact of Bill and Ted, Wayne's World, Jim Carrey? The quality of the imitators?

2.The influence of American stand-up comedy, television comedy, Saturday Night Live? Satiric routines transferred to the big screen - can they sustain a full length feature?

3.The affluent world of the Madisons, the home and the mansion, the pool? The office and business? School? Musical score?

4.Adam Sandler as Billy Madison? Comic style? Wasting his time, his friends, drinking, the swimming pool? The clash with Eric? His high school diploma - bribery, cheating? His decision to work his way through each grade of primary and secondary school? The fortnight? Not cheating? His life at school, with the children, the teachers? His desperate passing? The party at the end of each grade? His attraction towards Veronica? Dating? High school and the bullies? (And his memory of doing the same thing?) The apology to the schoolmate - and the schoolmate deciding not to kill Billy? The clash with Eric, the blackmailing of the school principal? Cheating? Billy clearing his name? The competition with Eric to see who was the more intelligent? The collapse into chaos? Eric and his being shot? Billy and his decision to go to college? Credible character? Satiric character?

5.The contrast with Eric, obsequious, working with Billy's father, managing and scheming, with the school principal and the blackmail, the final contest with Billy - and his being shot? A bad loser?

6.Brian Madison, the tycoon, his dissatisfaction with his son, urging him and threatening him? His reaction to Billy's academic success?

7.The schoolchildren and their reaction to Billy? Primary school, high school, friends, parties, clashes? The nerd who wants to kill Billy - but accepts his apology? Shooting Eric?

8.Veronica, her initial reaction to Billy? Her falling in love, dating him?

9.The particular American characteristics of this kind of this brash and extroverted comedy? How popular world wide?