The Waterboy (1998) *

If a mutt can play football (see Air Bud: Golden Receiver), why not a Cajun waterboy with a speech impediment (Sandler)? This watchable sports comedy offers a couple of big laughs alongside many yawners. Best of all is Bates, wonderfully overacting as a campy Bayou-Momma-From-Hell. Her culinary endeavours (from roasted gators to fried rattlesnakes) add a delicious touch of "Cajun Gothic" sensibility to the proceedings.