Sandler tees off again: 'Happy Gilmore 2' is equal parts mayhem and moving moments

IOL News

4 days ago

Adam Sandler returns as a washed-up golf legend in "Happy Gilmore 2".
Image: Netflix.
After decades away from the golf course, iconic actor Adam Sandler is back on the green in the highly anticipated sequel to the 1996 sports comedy classic, "Happy Gilmore".
This time around, Happy (Sandler) is the opposite of what his name suggests.
He's a washed-up, legendary world golf champion who is now an alcoholic. He has liquor stored in canisters shaped as a TV remote control to a cucumber, and even a cellphone.
If you're worried about not having seen the original film, fear not! "Happy Gilmore 2" begins with a recap that perfectly captures the essence of the first movie, making it easy for newcomers to jump right in.
Happy's journey continues as he grapples with the loss of his wife and the challenges of raising five grown children, Gordie, Wayne, Bobby, Terry and Vienna, while trying to make ends meet at a local grocery store.
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After vowing never to pick up a golf club again, Happy finds himself in dire financial straits.
He's forced to get back into the profession to rake up $300K so that he can send Vienna to a prominent ballet school in Paris.
Reluctantly, he dusts off his golf clubs, but during his first game, he drinks too much, falls asleep while driving the golf cart and crashes into another.
This gets him fired from his job and in legal trouble.
A jury agrees to remove all charges if he completes an alcohol treatment program and refrains from any physical altercations.
This marks the start of his redemption journey, in which viewers are taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.
"Happy Gilmore 2" doesn't simply replicate what made the first a hit, it builds on it.
Image: Instagram.
The film's narrative captures the underdog spirit that made the first movie a hit, and the introduction of fresh faces, including the young pro, played by Bad Bunny, ties in perfectly.
With cheeky callbacks to iconic lines like "Go to your happy place", the film pays homage to the original while paving its own way.
Sandler delivers a hole-in-one performance that feels authentic and relatable, reminding us why we fell in love with his character in the first place.
The laughs are plentiful, the stakes feel real, and above all, the soul of the film is undeniably uplifting.
Sequels often struggle to live up to the original, but "Happy Gilmore 2" does and, while doing so, brilliantly explores themes of redemption, family and resilience.