Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this was huge in 1998, but it's 2025 and The Waterboy has not aged like fine wine—more like milk left in a hot car. The entire comedic engine runs on mocking Bobby's intellectual disability, which feels increasingly gross as cultural awareness has evolved.

The sports underdog story has bones, and some kids genuinely enjoy the slapstick physical comedy, but the 'solve your problems by tackling people really hard' message isn't exactly enriching. Add in the overbearing mother dynamics played for laughs and crude humor that feels dated, and you've got a movie that's hard to enthusiastically recommend.

If your kid is really into '90s Sandler or needs a football-themed comedy, it exists. But there are better uses of 90 minutes that won't require you to explain why making fun of people with disabilities isn't actually funny. This gets a low WISE score because while it's technically 'safe' in the no-gore-or-sex sense, it's not wholesome, not imaginative, and definitely not enriching.

Age Fit

Best for ages 10-14 who can handle crude humor and cartoonish violence, though many modern kids will find the comedy style dated and the disability mockery off-putting. Older teens will likely find it juvenile and cringey.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

45

While the underdog-makes-good story has heart, the film relies heavily on mocking Bobby's intellectual disability and social awkwardness for laughs. The humor is mean-spirited at times, with Bobby's overbearing mother relationship being played for cringe comedy. Violence is cartoonish but central to the plot (tackling, rage). Limited modeling of healthy relationships or emotional intelligence.

Imaginative

35

Formulaic sports comedy with predictable beats: bullied waterboy discovers hidden talent, joins team, wins games. The 'hidden rage as superpower' concept is mildly creative but not explored with depth. No real invitation to creative thinking or exploration—it's straightforward slapstick and sports tropes. Sandler's signature absurdist humor is present but dated.

Safe

60

PG-13 content with cartoonish football violence, crude humor, and some mild sexual references. No graphic content, but the comedy frequently targets Bobby's disability in ways that feel uncomfortable. Language is relatively mild for the era. The violence is exaggerated and unrealistic enough that it's clearly comedic, not traumatic. No truly shocking content, but the mockery of disability and some dated gender dynamics are concerning.

Enriching

30

Minimal enrichment value. The 'believe in yourself' message is buried under layers of crude humor. Bobby's transformation is more about channeling rage than personal growth. Limited emotional depth, no real skill-building, and the resolution relies on violence solving problems. The film doesn't encourage critical thinking or empathy—it's pure escapist comedy with questionable lessons about anger management.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Classic underdog sports story that some kids find motivating (even if simplistic)
Introduces football basics in an accessible, comedic way
Sandler's physical comedy can be genuinely funny for kids who like slapstick
Short runtime (90 min) keeps it from dragging too much

⚠

What to Watch For

The entire premise relies on laughing at Bobby's intellectual disability and social awkwardness—this is uncomfortable and teaches the wrong lessons
Violence is cartoonish but constant (brutal tackles, fights) and framed as problem-solving
Some crude humor and mild sexual references typical of '90s PG-13 comedies
Bobby's mother is controlling and infantilizing in ways played for laughs but actually pretty disturbing
The 'channel your rage into violence' message is... not great parenting material

Conversation Starters

"Bobby gets made fun of a lot—how do you think that made him feel? What would you do if you saw someone being treated that way?"
"The movie shows Bobby using anger to tackle people. In real life, what are better ways to handle feeling angry?"
"Bobby's mom is really overprotective. Why do you think parents sometimes worry too much? When is it helpful and when does it go too far?"

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