You can mess with him. But don’t mess with his water.|Nov. 06, 1998|United States|90 Min.|PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Description: “The Waterboy” is a 1998 comedy film that follows the story of Robert “Bobby” Boucher Jr., a socially awkward and mentally challenged 31-year-old man who works as the water boy for the University of Louisiana football team. Living with his overprotective and deeply religious mother, Helen, Bobby believes his father died of dehydration in the Sahara while serving in the Peace Corps.
After enduring years of bullying from the players, Bobby is fired by the team’s head coach, Red Beaulieu. He then joins the South Central Louisiana State University Mud Dogs as their water boy. The Mud Dogs are a struggling team with a 40-game losing streak, alcoholic cheerleaders, and severe budget constraints. When Bobby is teased by the new team, Coach Klein encourages him to stand up for himself. In a moment of frustration, Bobby tackles the quarterback, showcasing his hidden potential.
Coach Klein convinces Bobby to join the team as a linebacker, despite Helen’s objections. Bobby becomes a star player, using his pent-up anger as motivation to lead the Mud Dogs on a winning streak. Along the way, he reconnects with his childhood crush, Vicki Vallencourt, though Helen disapproves of their relationship, warning Bobby that women and pop culture are “the devil.”
The Mud Dogs’ success earns them a spot in the Bourbon Bowl, where they face off against the University of Louisiana team and Coach Beaulieu. The film highlights Bobby’s journey of self-discovery, resilience, and triumph over adversity.
Cast director: Frank Coraci
Cast actor: Adam Sandler, Kathy Bates, Fairuza Balk, Henry Winkler, Jerry Reed, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Blake Clark, Peter Dante, Jonathan Loughran, Al Whiting
Original name: The Waterboy