Billy Madison is the 27 year-old son of Bryan Madison, a very rich man who has made his living in the hotel industry. Billy stands to inherit his father's empire, but only if he can make it through all 12 grades, 2 weeks per grade, to prove that he has what it takes to run the family business.
Those unfamiliar with Sandler's antics may...begin to find him annoying sometime between the appearance of the Universal logo and the end of the opening credits.
– Brian Lowry,
Variety,
1 Jun 2008
fresh:
If you've ever had a yen to relive the third grade, this must be the next best thing.
– Janet Maslin,
New York Times,
20 May 2003
rotten:
Director Tamra Davis and screenwriters Sandler and Tim Herlihy scatter the bad jokes like fertilizer. Nothing sprouts.
– Peter Rainer,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Feb 2001
rotten:
As one character tells Billy in the finale: "Everyone in this room is dumber for having listened to you."