NFL
By: Rick O’Donnell
You either get Adam Sandler’s movies or you don’t. You either love them, or he’s not for you. Personally, I think he’s had some great movies that were downright hilarious, and ones that I didn’t love as much. That’s okay. I don’t have to love every piece of work an artist puts out. Some people still love those movies, and I won’t hate on them for doing so. However, one of the movies that seemed to be universally loved is the original Happy Gilmore. Almost 30 years later, Sandler and the gang reunited for the sequel, but will it live up to the original, and was it any good?
The Premise
Gilmore returns to the sport of golf since his retirement after winning his first Tour Championship, to finance his daughter’s ballet classes.
What Worked
If you loved the nostalgia and characters of the first Happy Gilmore movie, this one either brings them back or pays tribute to them. Between creating younger versions of those characters no longer with us, or bringing back fan favorites, the comedy high points still persisted.
Comedies are subjective. More often than not, they rely on having prior knowledge of what they’re poking fun at in order to fully appreciate the humor. HG 2 is no different. With a host of PGA golfers in tow, Happy Gilmore 2 takes LIV Golf and parodies the separation from the PGA Tour, and as Adam Sandler does best, there are plenty of cameos and familiar faces that make his over-the-top digs take center stage. It’s easy to call it cheesy at times, and it is, but that’s the fun of it. Calling out ridiculous things with a sense of ridiculousness is good comedy.
What Could’ve Been Better
I know it’s a comedy, but there were emotional elements to this movie that I would’ve liked a stronger setup for. The jokes are set up just fine, and it doesn’t need to be the deepest movie made, but context around the characters could’ve been established a bit better. Take one of Sandler’s other movies, Click. Yes, it was a different setup and a different moral to the story, but it set up the inner conflict better.
The whole premise was him getting back into golf to pay for his daughter’s dance lessons. If Happy’s worry was not being able to provide for his daughter, thus not letting her down, his alcoholism could’ve taken a back seat in the story. If not, it could’ve played into her being let down even more by that. It hit on its comedy and wasn’t meant to be this big roller coaster of emotions, but it was harder for me to root for him to win without that extra sentiment of letting her down.
Happy Gilmore 2 doesn’t have to be as good as the original to be a fun movie for the family. Yes, it is a bit crass at times, but you knew it would be going into it. That’s pretty much a calling card for an Adam Sandler movie. However, the jokes were there. There were a few good cameos that punched up the movie a bit more. If you loved the original, you’re probably going to at least enjoy watching the sequel. It may not be your favorite Sandler movie, but it might. You can be tired of remakes if you want, but if you’re a fan of the original, it’d at least give it a try.
