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.
As one character tells Billy in the finale: "Everyone in this room is dumber for having listened to you."
– Rita Kempley,
Washington Post,
1 Jan 2000
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
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:
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.