The highly anticipated sequel, Happy Gilmore 2, finally arrived on Netflix last Friday, marking the return of Adam Sandler's iconic character 29 years after the first film was released.
The film did not just bring back the beloved characters from the original, such as Happy, Virginia, and Shooter McGavin, but it also introduced a new batch of hilarious and wacky characters played by well-known stars today, such as Bad Bunny and Travis Kelce. It also featured appearances from several iconic golf athletes, including John Daly, and callbacks from the first movie.
Fans were hoping that the sequel would live up to the entertainment value of the first film and manage to give a satisfying follow-up that would make them laugh and cheer again for the titular character. Fortunately, that was the case.
Why Happy Gilmore 2 is the Best Adam Sandler Comedy Movie in Years
The Adam Sandler comedy movies for the last several years (which were mostly released on Netflix) have been unmemorable or mediocre at best. None of them reached the entertainment satisfaction of his beloved films from the '90s and 2000s. None of them made any mark in pop culture at all, and they became forgettable entries within the Netflix algorithm sphere.
While Happy Gilmore 2 is a legacy sequel and based on an existing IP, it is easily the best Sandler comedy movie in years (we're not counting the likes of Uncut Gems and Hustle since they are dramas), and it's all because Sandler and his team harkened back to the formula of the first film.
The magic of the original Happy Gilmore is its right balance of wacky/absurd humor and heart. While there were a lot of ridiculous moments and plot points, the sequel is still pretty much a heartwarming tale of fatherhood (Happy participating in the tournament so that his daughter could enroll in ballet school) and grief (Happy dealing with the death of Virginia).
The character of Happy was deeply motivated by his family and their endless support for him, even when he faced some obstacles. He made the audience root for his growth and journey, even if he makes questionable and ridiculous choices in life. The goal is pure, simple, and relatable. After all, who doesn't empathize with someone who is doing everything for their family?
Shooter McGavin was also given a surprising redemption arc. Yes, he was a truly bad person when he was depicted in the first film. But the sequel turned things around for him and showed that people could still change and redeem themselves from their past actions. He showed that second chances are still possible, even if it's three decades later.
The film embraced the absurdity of the world that they created, just like the original. At the same time, they focused on the personal journey and heart of the character, which makes this feel like it is still grounded in reality, somewhat. None of Sandler's comedy movies in the past several years reached this level, as they relied too much on dumb jokes and mediocre punchlines.
Is Happy Gilmore 2 as great as the original? Not necessarily. Most fans may even have low expectations before watching it, since comedy sequels don't always have the same quality as the first. However, it is easily the best Sandler comedy in years, as it has the elements that make us enjoy his movies in the first place.
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