Humor of Billy Madison

Of Adam Sandler’s comedy films the one that I regard as the funniest and the one I find myself quoting most from time to time is Billy Madison.  Billy Madison outlines the story of an heir to a gigantic hotel fortune who has wasted his life because he feels no need to do any work because he is financially taken care of.  The movie begins by showing Billy, now presumably in late twenties, lounging in the middle of the pool on a float, with beer cans surrounding his two other reprobate friends who are passed out.  As the movie continues, we are shown a meeting between Billy, his father, and his father’s business associates, during which the future of the hotel chain is discussed.  As Billy’s father makes a statement that he is going to retire, he also tells Billy that he will not take over the company because he is grossly unqualified for the job.  Upon hearing this news Billy is outraged and decides to take action.   Since Billy failed to adequately complete grade school, he offers to go back to school and complete each grade in two weeks and when he graduates high school he will take over the company.

After reading my synopsis, many people will think that this movie is overly ridiculous and does not portray a real life situation in any way.  While I will probably agree that the movie does not outline real life scenarios, I will, however, comment that this movie shows important aspects of American Humor and American society.  Firstly, the movie brilliantly outlines the importance of a basic education that we value so highly in our society.  It becomes clear that Billy’s life is almost meaningless because of his lack of education, and therefore the movie preaches the importance of school despite the childish humor present throughout.  At the end of the movie when Billy successfully completes grades 1-12, it shows Billy’s incredible sense of achievement and his ability to lead his life in a rewarding and meaningful way due to his schooling.  The movie also makes a comment upon the complacency of the upper class and the downfalls of this complacency.  When we are first introduced to Billy, it is clear that since he stands to inherit large fortune, he does not need to work, but just relax for the rest of his life.  Sandler shows that this complacency leads to mental and physical degeneration and as a result something needs to be done.  Our society holds great condemnation for upper class people, especially people with inherited money, that don’t do any work and just live off their money, and the movie outlines this vilification.  Despite appearing infantile in content, Billy Madison, actually makes serious statements about American society, culture, and humor. 

In my next blog I will look at the humor in the movie Happy Gilmore.