Early in his career, David Spade gained his name on Saturday Night Live (SNL) as a cast member with people like Chris Farley, Chis Rock, Rob Schneider, Adam Sandler, and Chis Rock. Spade has stayed good friends with all of these people.
While some critics have criticised Spade's films for being immature or repetitive, he has built a devoted fan base and several of his films have gone on to be regarded as true cult classics. Spade is known and admired for his friendly and Everyman attitude. With a career spanning more than 30 years, we've looked back over his filmography and chosen his best and most entertaining works, ranking them below.
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, which debuted in 2003, had a creative assortment of appearances and a fun and engaging idea, so it's disappointing that it didn't quite live up to expectations. This is not to say that the ride is not enjoyable, and some of the cameos are unquestionably funny. It centres on Spade's portrayal of fading child star Dickie Roberts trying to jumpstart his career. He interacts with several real child stars throughout the process, including Gary Coleman, Corey Haim, Dustin Diamond, and Corey Feldman. Despite his cameos, Jon Lovitz gives a strong performance as Dickie's agent. Even if it starts to drag a little in the second half, Spade's blend of offbeat and slapstick humour, together with a surprisingly good dosage of sentimentality, makes this one of his stronger films.
Mistaken Missy
The Wrong Missy is undoubtedly a good entry and a respectable addition to this list, even though it doesn't offer fans of Spade or Happy Madison anything notably ground-breaking or unusual from their typical boisterous comedic outings. This time, Spade plays a businessman going on a work retreat who accidentally invites a woman he had a terrible first date with after making a phonebook identity mistake. Spade's comedy and charisma still shine brightly after more than three decades in the business, but Lauren Lapkus steals the show as the outrageous "wrong" Missy, genuinely revealing a side of her that is sure to leave audiences ready for more in the future. It's always a pleasure to see Mr. Rob Van Winkle, nicknamed Vanilla Ice, make an appearance after he's appeared in multiple Happy Madison productions, and as usual, he doesn't disappoints.
Older People
The movie was not a major hit with reviewers, like many David Spade, Happy Madison, and Adam Sandler productions, but the box office numbers undoubtedly tell a different tale, with Grown Ups earning an astounding $271 million and inspiring an equally successful sequel. Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Kevin James, and Rob Schneider are among the star-studded ensemble that frequently work together and play old school friends who go on a reunion trip three decades later. Spade also appears in the comedy. Even though the humour occasionally comes off as a little childish, given the cast, that shouldn't be all that shocking. It's not hard to understand why the film was such a hit in theatres with viewers eager to turn off and be amused for about 100 minutes because the humour come thick and fast with a little pathos and tenderness tossed in for good measure.
Transylvania Hotel
This 2012 comedy starring Adam Sandler is the first but not the final animation on the list, and it is jam-packed with well-known horror tropes, characters, and references. Hotel Transylvania was a major box-office success and has since inspired three additional sequels. Favorite horror characters including the Invisible Man, Frankenstein, Quasimodo, a werewolf, and, of course, Dracula will make appearances for children and parents. Younger viewers will be mesmerized by the frantic humor and stunning animations, while adults will delight in the numerous jokes that pay homage to legendary horror films throughout history. Alongside an impressive voice ensemble that includes Sandler, Kevin James, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, and Steve Buscemi, Spade portrays the Invisible Man.
Dirty Joe
Joe Dirt, which was initially dismissed by critics, has since gained praise and is now recognized as one of actor David Spade's finest performances. The film features the actor in his element as a trashy redneck janitor who sets out to find his parents but instead discovers himself and a new family of close friends. Spade has often been accused of playing things safe, so it's good to watch him really commit to a role. Even Kid Rock's performance wasn't horrible, and the supporting cast as a whole was outstanding. Joe Dirt will always rank as one of Spade's most memorable moments because it was a commercial success and was frequently quoted.
Boy, Tommy
the first of three movies Spade and Chris Farley, a fellow SNL cast member, would work on together. The second, Black Sheep, failed to achieve Tommy Boy's level of popularity, and the third was never made because of Farley's untimely overdose in 1997. Luckily, Tommy Boy was a great illustration of what made the couple click as a team, demonstrating their unmistakable chemistry in full force. In the movie, Farley plays the emotionally stunted young man Tommy, who is thrown into the corporate world after the death of his businessman father and finds it difficult to understand. As Tommy's father's resentful assistant, Spade plays the part a little more straight as a former employee of the man. He initially finds Tommy's antics and shenanigans annoying, but with time, the two grow close. Since then, the film has earned cult classic status.
The Emperor's New Groove
The Emperor's New Groove, one of Disney's most underappreciated movies, tells the story of a spoiled young emperor who receives his due when a potion transforms him into a llama. Spade's voiced Kuzco, the movie's protagonist, teams up with Pacha, played by John Goodman, to return to his castle and transform Pacha back into a human. Their rivalry transforms into friendship as a result of Pacha's humility, which also teaches the Emperor a few good deeds. With a meta twist and some fourth wall-breaking, which is particularly uncommon for Disney animations, the film is a vibrant and frequently hilarious event. The antagonist's musclebound meat-head henchman Kronk, who has grown to be a fan favourite among Disney lovers over the years, is voiced by Patrick Warburton, who, along with Spade and Goodman, gives a standout performance.
