Happy Gilmore 2comes nearly 30 years after the original film delighted fans in the ‘90s, a pivotal decade whenAdam Sandlerkicked off his movie career. He had hit after hit, fromBilly MadisontoBig Daddy, and, of course,Happy Gilmore. The sports comedy follows an aspiring hockey player who isn’t good enough to go pro, but whose swing translates into surprisingly impressive golf skills.
Three decades after it ended,Happy Gilmorereturns with theNetflixsequel. And whileHappy Gilmore 2doesn’t quite strike the same balance between humor and heart, it’s nostalgic perfection for fans of his early films.
What Makes Happy Gilmore 2 So Great?
Happy Gilmore 2fits right in with Sandler’s goofy, juvenile humor, presenting a story of Happy’s (Sandler) future that’s believable for the character. He rode his fame for as long as possible, doing whatever he could to make more money from it. But like anyone who has passed their prime, he struggles with an identity beyond his golfing career and his marriage.
The story takes hilarious twists and turns, unfolding as a beautiful underdog tale about finding yourself in the wake of tragedy. Sure, it’s masked by humor, as is alwaysthe case with Sandler. He makes us laugh about serious topics like alcohol addiction, death, and even halitosis. Yet it doesn’t come across like he’s making light of these serious circumstances. Instead, he’s depicting them in such over-the-top ways that you can’t help but laugh. And that’s what we all need right now.
The story in the movie has a deeper lesson about overcoming trauma and working hard to achieve our goals. Despite realizing that he has lost his touch with golf, Happy doesn’t give up. He perseveres, mostly driven by being able to offer his daughter the life she deserves. When he comes face to face with his old rival Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald), the pair share a tussle, but then show that they have both matured, even if they’re still downright comical. Even if the jokes are still silly, the characters have grown in their own strange ways.
With the introduction of a new villain, the once-rivals can work together, offering a fresh story. It’s more believable that both Happy and Shooter would have moved on by now. They let bygones be bygones and have bigger fish to fry for different reasons. The movie is also careful about bringing back iconic lines and moments in a clever way that doesn’t feel like it’s recycling old jokes. Shooter’s finger guns never get old, and Happy’s low-pitched screams are part of his endearing personality. And his irresponsibility, including forgetting to hire a caddy or getting worked up over a heckler, is core to who he is. There’s no reason to believe that Happy would have become an entirely different person, even if he had matured emotionally.
Overall, the film pays ultimate fan service to fans who have seen the original movie countless times and picked up on every subtle joke. That’s exactly what you want in a sequel, especially one released 30 years after the original.
‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Pays Homage To Lost Actors
The film doesn’t just featureactors reprising their roles, including Sandler, McDonald, and Julie Bowen. It also introduces new characters, some played by stars meant to attract a younger audience, like Bad Bunny, Scott Mescudi (Kid Cudi), and Travis Kelce.But there are also ones that are designed to pay homage to actors we have lost in the last 30 years, making the film a fitting tribute.
Lavelle Crawford, for example, plays Slim Peterson, the son of Happy’s mentor Chubbs, who was played bythe late Carl Weathersin the original movie. He oddly also sports a prosthetic hand, but his wasn’t lost due to an alligator attack, but rather a vending machine incident.This helps keep the spirit of the original movie alive and honors the late Weathers. Weathers’ passing came as a shock since he was slated to appear in the film, requiring some rewriting. Still, the filmmakers did a great job honoring him while bringing on a talented new actor.
Richard Kiel, who played Happy’s towering boss in the original movie, is honored through Serbian professional basketball player Boban Marjanović, who plays his son Drago. Like his father, he has come out to support Happy on the green. The resemblance is uncanny between the two, and it’s a sweet way to show that no late actor was forgotten.
Along with frequent mentions of Happy’s grandmother, played by the late Frances Bay, Eminem also appears as a fisherman’s hat-wearing heckler who takes the place of his father, Donald, originally played by the late Joe Flaherty. Meanwhile, Bob Barker makes a brief cameo in a video game reenactment of their epic fight.
Perhaps the most touching tribute is to an actor who never appeared in the original but starred alongside Sandler in later films. Cameron Boyce starred as Sandler’s character’s son inGrown UpsandGrown Ups 2. He died in 2019 at the age of 20 due to complications from epilepsy.To subtly honor his former co-star, one scene shows a clip of Boyce in the Disney Channel showJessieplaying on a TV in the background.
‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Is Low-Brow Humor at Its Finest
Happy Gilmore 2has been receiving mixed reviews, par for the course for any ofSandler’s low-brow humor movies. People either love them or dislike them, and I often fall into the former camp. Taken for what they are, which is silly, offbeat humor with over-the-top characters, nonsensical scenes, and dumb jokes, it’s perfect light-hearted entertainment.
We could all use a good laugh, andHappy Gilmore 2provides plenty of that. The new characters match the energy and chemistry of the returning ones, while the celebrity cameo list is so extensive, you can’t help but Google it when you’re done to find out who you might have missed (or verify someone is who you thought they were).
From the musicians to the actors, wrestlers, and athletes, there are well-known faces and some you might not even realize are pro athletes or known actors until you look them up. Think people like John Farley, Chris Farley’s brother, who plays Nate; WNBA player Kelsey Plum and musician Andrew Wyatt, who play golf course receptionists; and plenty of professional golfers like Tony Finau and Bubba Watson.
If you’re a fan of Sandler movies,especially ones from the ‘90s, you’re likely to loveHappy Gilmore 2.It accomplishes what it set out to do, which is to bring an old favorite sports comedy back into the 21st century. The mix of celebrity cameos and guest appearances combines nostalgia with a new generation. It pays respect to the game that serves as its central theme, with a story that reinforces the importance of retaining its integrity. Deep down, it’s a story about redemption, family, and hope in the face of tragedy.
Would a sequel to a movie likeBilly MadisonorBig Daddyperform as well? Those concepts might be tough. ButHappy Gilmorecame at a perfect time when we all needed a laugh. I appreciate how cleverly he weaves in references that tie beautifully back to the original, even if some of them were downright ridiculous. Like the original, it’s a feel-good comedy you’ll want to watch again and again and will probably show your kids or grandkids 30 years down the line.StreamHappy Gilmore 2onNetflix.
