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That's My Boy

That's My Boy is a 2012 American comedy film directed by Sean Anders and written by David Caspe.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

That's My Boy is a 2012 American comedy film directed by Sean Anders and written by David Caspe. Starring Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg, it follows a troubled father trying to reconnect with his adult son while facing financial and legal problems. The film was produced by Columbia Pictures and Happy Madison Productions in association with Relativity Media.

Plot

The film follows Donny Berger, a middle-aged man with debt problems, as he tries to rebuild a relationship with his adult son, Todd. The story combines family conflict with the consequences of Donny's earlier notoriety and irresponsible behaviour.

Cast

Adam Sandler plays Donny Berger and Andy Samberg plays his son, Todd Peterson/Han Solo Berger. Leighton Meester and James Caan are among the principal supporting cast, along with Susan Sarandon, Will Forte, Milo Ventimiglia, Vanilla Ice, and Tony Orlando.

Release and reception

That's My Boy premiered in U.S. theatres on June 15, 2012. It was negatively reviewed by critics and underperformed at the box office relative to its reported production budget.

Key facts

  • The film was produced by Columbia Pictures and Happy Madison Productions in association with Relativity Media.
  • It centres on Donny Berger, whose past becomes public after a teacher-student relationship, and his attempt to reconnect with his son.
  • The cast also includes Susan Sarandon, Will Forte, Milo Ventimiglia, Vanilla Ice, Tony Orlando, and others.
  • It was released in U.S. theatres on June 15, 2012.
  • The film received largely negative reviews from critics and was a commercial disappointment.
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Canadian context

The film was released internationally, including in Canada through standard North American theatrical and home-entertainment distribution, and is part of the broader catalogue of Hollywood comedy films seen by Canadian audiences.

Frequently asked questions

What is That's My Boy?
That's My Boy is a 2012 American comedy film directed by Sean Anders and written by David Caspe.
Who stars in the film?
The film stars Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Leighton Meester, and James Caan.
When was it released?
It was released in U.S. theatres on June 15, 2012.
What is the film about?
It follows Donny Berger as he tries to reconnect with his adult son while dealing with debt and the fallout from his earlier notoriety.
Was it successful?
No. Sources describe it as a critical and commercial failure.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/That's_My_Boy_(2012_film)
    Supports: Director, writer, cast, plot, production companies, release date, and reception.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/thats_my_boy_2012
    Supports: Genre, release date, runtime, and rating information.
  3. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/thats-my-boy
    Supports: Synopsis, release date, runtime, cast, director, studio, and MPAA rating.