Happy Gilmore 2 stars Sandler alongside Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, Benny Safdie, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, and Ben Stiller. The sequel to Happy Gilmore (1996) follows Happy Gilmore (Sandler), a widowed alcoholic and ex-golfer who returns to professional golf to help pay for his daughter’s overseas ballet school but it is no easy task as the existence of traditional golf is facing a crisis of up and coming “reinvention” of the sport called Maxi Golf.
I must admit that I recently watched the original film for the first time. It was insane to see Sandler, Bowen, and McDonald so young, and how well the film held up. It’s definitely a candidate on the Mount Rushmore of Sandler’s classics. Now it has been a trend of Hollywood lately of making unnecessary sequels/reboots to films of the 90s and sometimes Sandler’s films can be a miss but I was pleasantly surprised with Happy Gilmore 2.
50 First Dates, Big Daddy, Mr. Deeds all had something in common which was the combination of Sandler’s crude humor and tug on your heartstring moments. Happy Gilmore 2 is a special film on its own because it also introduces both of his real-life daughters in roles that when his character was at his lowest, their support and motivation helped him overcome challenges and improve himself for the better which enhanced the more emotional parts of the story.
As every sequel should, it included some references and running gags from the first film as well as flashback scenes for those who have not watched the original for some time.
There are so many cameos in this movie, from Margaret Qualley to Eminem, you can definitely see a lot of them were having fun which sold a lot of the funniest moments of the film. What surprised me was how much I enjoyed Bad Bunny’s role. His comedic timing was perfect and was further complemented by Sandler’s character. McDonald as Shooter McGavin, the best golfer in the 90s (exception to Tiger Woods) delivers a classic performance and even after almost 20 years, still does not MISS.
Along with the celebrity cameos, it was great to see the inclusion of actual pro golfers as well. Although I am not knowledgeable of the world of golf, this movie actually made me want to look up the players and learn more about their backgrounds.
Now in no way is this a perfect film. The storyline is pretty simple with no crazy twists, and the main antagonist is unremarkable and forgettable at times. Sometimes the jokes don’t always land and can come off a bit awkward. I am not a huge fan of a certain character’s death at the beginning of the film and wanted to see how that relationship would grow. But to me when you are watching a Sandler film, you already know what you are getting yourself into. It will be a simple story filled with humor, cameos, and some heartfelt moments. The film does not market itself to be on the same level as Hustle, Uncut Gems, Spanglish, Punch-Drunk Love, or Reign Over Me. Sandler’s filmography is really a great reflection of who he is and his capabilities. Even so, I had a surprisingly fun time and appreciate bringing the feeling of nostalgia in a not so gimmicky way.
