Happy Gilmore 2: A Winning Nostalgic Sequel

1996’s Happy Gilmore is one of the quintessential Adam Sandler movies and one of the best comedies of the 1990s. An underdog sports comedy, the film put him on the map, bringing his effortless charm and comedic timing to make the titular character forever interweaved with the comedian. Even the thought of a sequel, let alone one 29 years later, never seemed like a possibility considering how the original film ended. Unlike the trend of remaking or rebooting films based on classic IPs, Happy Gilmore 2, a film that arguably falls into this trend, this sequel definitely has its heart in the right place. Another showcase for Sandler, he has not lost a beat as the controversial unorthodox golfer. But, that being said, how does one go about making a sequel to an underdog story that saw said underdog reach the top, you knock him back down.

Treading some familiar ground in terms of underdog stories, the film add much more in the way of stakes this time around. Not forgetting that it is a comedy, the film is absolutely hilarious and a little too silly at times, the balance between humor and heart, following an older and wiser Happy, makes it that much more compelling. Meanwhile, with the first Happy Gilmore making such an impact, audiences can expect so many cameos, there are too many to name. Ultimately, for those wondering if the character and story hold up after all this time, those answer is yes, if not for nostalgia’s sake. However, those who have not seen the original film need not worry.

Happy Gilmore 2, as mentioned, sees Happy Gilmore (Sandler) at the top of his game as a championship golfer and one of the most popular players on tour thanks to his powerful, unorthodox swing. With his love of the game at an all-time high, tragedy struck the Gilmore family as an errant drive would strike and kill Happy’s wife Virginia (Bowen). The glue that held the family together, her loss proved to be a major one, both taking care of the finances and helping him raise their five feisty children who were very much cut from the same cloth, Gordie (Maxwell Friedman), Bobby (Philip Schneider), Wayne (Ethan Cutkosky), Terry (Conor Sherry), and Vienna (Sunny Sandler). Vowing to never play golf again following Virginia’s death, with their main source of income gone, it was only a matter of time until they were faced with reality.

Now 10 years later and struggling to provide for his family, Happy wanted the best for his family and whether he wanted to or not, the answer inevitably was to go back to golf. Though after so long, he was not quite the golfer he used to be as he had some rust to shake off. Nevertheless, his reputation preceded him so his attempted comeback would not be easy. Still grieving the loss of Virginia, those not fully processed feelings and resounding alcoholism threatened to keep him from his happy place. In the end, just trying to make enough money to support his family, Gilmore found himself back in the limelight as a new golf league threatened to disrupt the tradition and values of a sport that he himself disrupted 30 years prior but had since become a major fixture. Created by energy drink mogul Frank Manatee (Benny Safdie), Maxi was a so-called quicker and more exciting golf league was meant to unseat the sport as we known it. What once was a mission to win prize money and provide for his family, for Happy, it was also about saving the sport of golf.

Once the endgame of the story became crystal clear, the heart of the Happy Gilmore franchise truly came out. Hijinks ensued as Happy found himself on a team of pros to take on a team of Maxi pros in a tournament designed to prove which league was better. Alongside Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Scottie Scheffler, and Bryson DeChambeau, training for the upcoming tournament became a boot camp of sorts full of silliness, while the real life professional golfers looked to have a blast in embracing their silly sides. When it came to the tournament, the silliness continued as the overconfident Manatee believed he had the deck stacked against the team of golf pros. Taking place on his 7-hole golf course, the holes were nowhere near what golf fans would expect from orthodox holes. What can only be described as a silly golf video game brought to life, the pros were certainly not ready to handle the conditions of this course, and all the other bits Manatee threw their way. With each hole sillier than the last, the tournament became a fight for survival as his overconfidence was his downfall as their was no denying the outcome. Despite this, it did not lessen what had happened up to that point. Seeing Happy and the real life pros take on the conditions of the Maxi course and the caricaturish Maxi golfers was still fun to watch, with the antics of the final hole being the highlight of that.

Sure, Happy Gilmore 2 leans a lot on nostalgia to see its narrative, but the sequel offers more than a simple rehash. Bringing back old characters to service a story that does tread some familiar ground at times, it feels more like an homage than a mere gimmick. The third member of the main trio in the original film, McDonald’s Shooter McGavin, also makes an appearance. Being for the most part institutionalized since the events of the original film, the arc of his complicated relationship with Happy made for another interesting element to contend with as he somehow found himself released from captivity. On the other hand, new cast members such as Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio (otherwise known as ‘Bad Bunny’) and John Daly each steal scenes as Oscar, a former busboy turned Happy’s new caddie, and Happy’s neighbor, and a sleazy version of himself (or just himself in real life). Above all else, now nearly 30-years later, Happy is a character that is still easy to root for solely for the charm and likability of Sandler. He is flawed but he has the right intentions. It’s the just the way he goes about it is what often got himself in trouble. Happy is a product of his upbringing so though he may be rough around the edges, he is relatable as he is once against the best part of the film and continues to be the glue that holds it all together.

At the end of the day, Happy Gilmore 2 is an ace of a sequel that treads some familiar but overcomes this through its heart and the effortless charm of Adam Sandler.

*still courtesy of Netflix

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook.

Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.