The Waterboy
A waterboy for a college football team discovers he has a unique tackling ability and becomes a member of the team.
Despite a respectable budget of $23.0M, The Waterboy became a box office phenomenon, earning $186.0M worldwide—a remarkable 709% return.
6 wins & 6 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Bobby Boucher
Vicki Vallencourt
Mama Boucher
Coach Klein
Red Beaulieu
Derek Wallace
Main Cast & Characters
Bobby Boucher
Played by Adam Sandler
A socially awkward waterboy with anger issues who becomes an unlikely football star when he discovers tackling.
Vicki Vallencourt
Played by Fairuza Balk
Bobby's rebellious love interest who encourages him to stand up for himself and pursue his dreams.
Mama Boucher
Played by Kathy Bates
Bobby's overprotective, controlling mother who sees danger in everything and keeps Bobby sheltered.
Coach Klein
Played by Henry Winkler
The insecure, struggling coach of the South Central Louisiana State Mud Dogs who recruits Bobby.
Red Beaulieu
Played by Jerry Reed
The arrogant head coach of the Cougars who fires Bobby as waterboy and serves as his antagonist.
Derek Wallace
Played by Peter Dante
The cocky quarterback of the Cougars who mocks Bobby and becomes a rival.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Bobby Boucher, a socially awkward 31-year-old waterboy, lovingly tends to water bottles for the University of Louisiana football team while being constantly ridiculed by players and coaching staff.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Head Coach Red Beaulieu fires Bobby from his waterboy position at the University of Louisiana, calling him a "retard" and destroying the only job and identity Bobby has ever known.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Bobby makes the active choice to join the team as a player, lying to Mama by telling her he's the team's equipment manager. He commits to this double life and steps into his new identity as "The Waterboy" linebacker., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat False victory: Bobby leads the team to multiple victories and receives a scholarship offer to play football, seemingly achieving everything he wanted. The team is heading to the Bourbon Bowl, but his web of lies to Mama is becoming unsustainable., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Mama discovers Bobby has been playing football and lying to her. She fakes a heart attack, emotionally devastating Bobby. He quits football entirely, losing his identity, his team, his future, and seemingly Vicki all at once. Everything collapses., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 72 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Bobby discovers Mama has been lying to him his entire life (his father didn't die, she drove him away; Bobby isn't stupid, etc.). This revelation allows Bobby to see clearly: he can love Mama AND live his own life. He chooses to play in the Bourbon Bowl., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Waterboy's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping The Waterboy against these established plot points, we can identify how Frank Coraci utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Waterboy within the comedy genre.
Frank Coraci's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Frank Coraci films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Waterboy exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Frank Coraci filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Frank Coraci analyses, see Click, Zookeeper and Here Comes the Boom.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Bobby Boucher, a socially awkward 31-year-old waterboy, lovingly tends to water bottles for the University of Louisiana football team while being constantly ridiculed by players and coaching staff.
Theme
Coach Klein tells Bobby, "You can do it," establishing the film's central theme about believing in oneself despite what others say and overcoming limitations imposed by fear and others' expectations.
Worldbuilding
We see Bobby's sheltered life: his domineering Mama who has kept him isolated with tales of everything being "the devil," his obsession with high-quality H2O, and his humiliating position as waterboy where he's everyone's punching bag.
Disruption
Head Coach Red Beaulieu fires Bobby from his waterboy position at the University of Louisiana, calling him a "retard" and destroying the only job and identity Bobby has ever known.
Resistance
Bobby discovers South Central Louisiana State University (a failing team coached by the timid Coach Klein) and secretly begins playing linebacker. He debates whether to hide this from Mama, who forbids football. Coach Klein becomes his inadvertent mentor, encouraging him to use his anger.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Bobby makes the active choice to join the team as a player, lying to Mama by telling her he's the team's equipment manager. He commits to this double life and steps into his new identity as "The Waterboy" linebacker.
Mirror World
Bobby meets Vicki Vallencourt, a "bad girl" who sees him for who he really is and encourages his authentic self, representing everything Mama warns against but also the acceptance and confidence Bobby needs.
Premise
The promise of the premise: Bobby dominates on the football field with his tackling ability, the team starts winning, he becomes a local celebrity, explores his relationship with Vicki, and experiences success and popularity for the first time in his life.
Midpoint
False victory: Bobby leads the team to multiple victories and receives a scholarship offer to play football, seemingly achieving everything he wanted. The team is heading to the Bourbon Bowl, but his web of lies to Mama is becoming unsustainable.
Opposition
Pressure mounts from all sides: Mama grows suspicious, Vicki pushes Bobby to be honest, Coach Beaulieu plots to expose Bobby, and Bobby's lies become harder to maintain. His two worlds are on a collision course.
Collapse
Mama discovers Bobby has been playing football and lying to her. She fakes a heart attack, emotionally devastating Bobby. He quits football entirely, losing his identity, his team, his future, and seemingly Vicki all at once. Everything collapses.
Crisis
Bobby retreats into isolation with Mama, processing his loss. The team loses without him. He sits in darkness, trapped between Mama's world and his own dreams, believing he must choose his mother over himself.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Bobby discovers Mama has been lying to him his entire life (his father didn't die, she drove him away; Bobby isn't stupid, etc.). This revelation allows Bobby to see clearly: he can love Mama AND live his own life. He chooses to play in the Bourbon Bowl.
Synthesis
Bobby returns for the championship game against his old tormentors (Coach Beaulieu's team), combining his authentic self with his football skills. He stands up for himself, leads his team to victory, and confronts both his past and his fears.
Transformation
Bobby celebrates victory with both Mama (who has accepted his choices and attends the game) and Vicki by his side. The closing image shows Bobby as a confident, self-determined man who has integrated all parts of his life and identity.