Sandler is Bobby Bouchet, a water-obsessed mama's boy fired from his job as waterboy for a high-profile Louisiana college football team. He finds a down-and-out team led by Coach Klein (a bored Henry Winkler), who urges Bobby to stand up for himself. Surprise surprise, the waterboy turns out to be the world's greatest tackler once he channels his negative energy, and soon Sandler is doing what he does best -- beating on everyone around him. It's repetitive but funny, as he mumbles through his trademark speech impediment, then screams and tackles his foes, even executing a jackknife power-bomb (yes, the Waterboy's a wrestling fan, and a scene with the Giant is one of many well-executed sports cameos).

Of course, each bang gets a little less exciting, and many gut-busting scenes are spaced out with wearying stretches of filler. Also, Bobby's psychotically restrictive mother (Kathy Bates in overbearing Southern mode) is more sad than funny. But if Sandler is truly determined to soften his image, his persona in here is an acceptable compromise.