Big Daddy(1999)

Submitted by Evan B

Pooper:
Although Sonny does not get to retain custody of Julian (who is actually the son of his best friend Kevin), he convinces his own father he has matured and is fit to be a dad. A little over a year later, Sonny is shown to still be in a relationship with Layla (and they have a child together) and is still hanging out with Julian and Kevin.

Long Ending:
Sonny (Adam Sandler) is stuck in a rut. Though he graduated law school, Sonny works as a toll booth operator and largely lives off a settlement awarded to him after being in a car accident. His girlfriend Vanessa (Kristy Swanson) warns him that she is growing tired of his lack of ambition and personal growth. Sonny’s father Lenny (Joseph Bologna) shares Vanessa’s view of Sonny. Sonny is also thrown for a loop when his roommate Kevin (Jon Stewart) gets engaged to his long-time girlfriend Corinne (Leslie Mann). Despite the fact that Corinne is a doctor, Sonny immaturely puts her down by referring to her as a Hooters girl since that’s where she was working when Kevin met her.

While Kevin is out of the country on a month-long work trip, a young boy named Julian (played by twins Cole Sprouse and Dylan Sprouse) arrives at the apartment. It turns out that Kevin had a one-night stand and unknowingly impregnated his partner. The mom recently died, so the social workers want to place Julian with Kevin on a trial basis. Sonny pretends to be Kevin and agrees to take temporary custody. Sonny thinks that if he can prove he can keep Julian safe and sound until Kevin returns, Vanessa will think he’s growing as a person. However, when Vanessa learns about Sonny’s plan, she breaks up with him (and reveals she’s already cheated on him and is dating a 60-year old man who has already “accomplished so much.”).

Although things start of chaotically – with Sonny letting Julian rename himself Frankenstein, putting newspaper over Julian’s pee and vomit when he pees his bed and vomits on the floor, and feeding Julian too much sugar – both start to adjust to their new life and develop a bond. Sonny teaches Julian how to tie his shoes, enrolls him in school, and builds up his confidence. Julian helps Sonny break the ice with women at a local park, and Sonny formally meets Layla (Joey Lauren Adams). Layla is an attorney and, as it also turns out, Corinne’s sister. Although Layla initially agrees to be “just friends” (as she wants to focus on her career), a romance soon develops between the two.

Social services eventually discovers that Sonny is not Kevin and they take Julian away. Sonny petitions the court for permanent custody and a hearing is scheduled. Sonny asks Layla to help him with the hearing, but she declines saying she doesn’t want this kind of commitment and would have to reschedule another trial to attend. However, on the day of the trial, Layla shows up (as does Kevin, and gay couple/additional lawyer friends Tommy and Mike). Julian testifies he wants to stay with Sonny. Sonny agrees to take the stand and insists he be cross-examined by his father Lenny (who is also a lawyer and came to the trial to ensure Sonny wouldn’t be put in jail), saying that if he can convince Lenny he’s fit then the court should agree. Sonny succeeds in convincing his dad he would be a good father, saying that Julian demonstrated what love means and that he would do anything to keep Julian safe and sound. The court is not swayed and orders Sonny arrested for “kidnapping” Julian. Kevin stands up and says that as Julian’s father, he won’t press charges. Sonny is released, and Kevin is awarded custody of Julian.

Jumping one year forward, Sonny and Layla are a couple and have a child of their own. Sonny has also patched things up with Corinne and treats her respectfully. Corinne, Kevin, Sonny, Layla, and Julian are still close, and Julian still sees Sonny often. They go to a party at a Hooters with Tommy and Mike where they find both Vanessa and her accomplished, old boyfriend are now working (having fallen on hard times). It’s also revealed that Sonny himself is now a practicing attorney.

There are also small roles/cameos for Rob Schneider, Josh Mostel, Jackie Sandler, Tim Herlihy, Dennis Dugan, and Steve Buscemi