[3] In New York City, Sonny Koufax is a 32-year-old slacker and law school graduate who hasn't taken the bar exam, works one day a week as a toll booth attendant, has his food delivered by his friend Nazo, and lives off a $200,000 compensation from a minor accident.

His roommate Kevin Gerrity proposes to his podiatrist girlfriend Corinne before he leaves for China to work on a case for his law firm and she accepts.

The next day, Sonny wakes up to find Julian "Frankenstein" McGrath, a five-year-old from Buffalo left at their apartment.

Despite his selfishness and lack of parenting skills, Sonny assures him that he will take care of Julian until Kevin returns from China.

They develop a strong bond and Julian helps Sonny find a new girlfriend in Corinne's lawyer sister Layla.

Days later, Brooks arrives to find out Sonny impersonated Kevin and threatens to have him arrested if he does not hand over Julian.

Julian also testifies and provides information regarding his birth in Toronto (he moved to Buffalo to be with his mother), which appears to spark Kevin's memory.

However, Kevin refuses to press charges and admits to Corinne about his one-night stand during a past trip to Toronto.

The site's critical consensus reads, "Adam Sandler acquits himself admirably, but his charm isn't enough to make up for Big Daddy's jarring shifts between crude humor and mawkish sentimentality.

"[9] Robert Koehler of Variety called it "a step forward for Adam Sandler, as well as a strategy to expand his audience.

While the loyal male-teen aud[ience] core will not be disappointed with the spate of gags just for them, story contains solid date-movie material.

"[10] Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times said: "There's no doubt Sandler is talented, but if he persists in believing that, like Elvis, his presence alone covers a multitude of omissions and inconsistencies, he will squander his gift and make a series of forgettable films in the process.