Since his breakthrough films, Adam Sandler has always had help from some of his best friends to help drive his films to box office gold. This comedy can be pretty summed as an Adam Sandler movie without Sandler himself. While the gags may be slightly Sandler fare, the formula ultimately works well thanks to the veteran cast assisting the "Sandler buddy" cast.
Alex (Allen Covert) is a video game tester and programmer who has lost his apartment when he failed to find any good work. He ends up living with his grandmother (Doris Roberts) and her two roommates, promiscuous Grace (Shirley Jones) and "human pharmacy" Bea (Shirley Knight). When he has the chance to work on a new game for Samantha (Linda Cardellini), Alex must convince his co-workers that his new "roommates" are three beautiful women who love to have their way with him.
As he tries to work on the new game, he has also taken the time to develop his own game, Demonik. During a party at his house, truths are revealed and while Alex gets together with Samantha, lowly co-worker Jimmy (Nick Swardson) hooks up with Grace. Meanwhile, game creator JP (Joel David Moore) learns about Demonik and intends to market it as his own.
Longtime Sandler support cast member Allen Covert has been Sandler's foil for many of his films, from HAPPY GILMORE (as the shaggy caddy) to THE WEDDING SINGER (as his best friend) to THE LONGEST YARD (as the referee). This time, he takes the lead in what may not seem likable on paper but likable on celluloid. Covert and co-star Nick Swardson co-wrote the screenplay, which focuses not only on the job of a video game tester, but his relationship with his grandmother, wonderfully played by Doris Roberts of EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND.
Roberts is joined by veterans Shirley Jones and Shirley Knight. Jones, best known as the matriarch of THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY, truly goes against type as she plays a very promiscuous woman. She does it so well that her once good girl image is truly tossed away. Meanwhile, Shirley Knight doesn't really offer much as Bea, only to look like she is constantly drugged up and high off all the pills she has to take.
Covert is not the only Sandler alum in the cast. Peter Dante, best known as the loud mouth quarterback in THE WATERBOY, hams it up as Dante, the weed-smoking best friend of Alex. Much like a connoisseur of wine, Dante is pretty much one of weed, experimenting with all various brands of ganja. As for Nick Swardson, he brings the goofy sidekick brand of comedy as Jimmy, who surprisingly becomes a man thanks to Grace's charm. As nemesis JP, Joel David Moore brings a more freaky performance as his character is too much of a computer geek and even goes as far as acting like a robot. Annoying at times for sure.
GRANDMA'S BOY could have been another Adam Sandler film, but with Sandler stepping back to give his friends ups is a noble thing to do. The formula works well without him and one could only hope for more fare with the Sandler boys.
AlbertV's Rating: B
Rated R for dialogue and language
Run time: 94 minutes
Released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Directed by Nicholaus Goossen. Produced by Allen Covert. Written by Barry Wernick, Allen Covert, and Nick Swardson. Starring Allen Covert, Nick Swardson, Doris Roberts, Shirley Jones, Shirley Knight, Linda Cardellini, Joel David Moore, Kevin Nealon.
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