Happy Gilmore 2 review: Can Sandler (and a LOT of cameos) solve a problem like legacy sequels?
While they sometimes work — Top Gun: Maverick being the best example of the bunch — many were worried once Happy Gilmore 2 was announced; not only as a legacy sequel, but as a Netflix exclusive.
While Happy Gilmore remains a cult classic, and arguably one of Adam Sandler's best films, a sequel nearly three decades later that would only be released on the streaming giant rather than getting a cinema release, would have some fans worried that we were going to get some more slop. And while there are more cameos than can count, the writing, somehow, makes up for it. Adam Sandler reprises his role as the hockey mad golfer Happy Gilmore, now 30 years older with a drinking problem. Pic: Netflix
**SPOILER ALERT FOR HAPPY GILMORE 2 NOW IN EFFECT. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!**
The film kicks off with 30 years of exposition, which includes Happy winning five more Tour Championships and having five children with his wife Virginia Venit – who was killed after an errant drive from her husband as he teed off. Yep, I guess Julie Bowen has made enough money from Modern Family just to show up for five minutes in this film. Good for her, I guess.
The all is lost moment comes quick in here, with Happy ending up a broke alcoholic who loses his grandmother's house again, working a minimum wage job while hiding his drinking problem in increasingly unlikely hip flasks. Bad Bunny is a highlight of the film as Happy's caddy. Pic: Scott Yamano/Netflix
When he learns that his only daughter gets accepted into a prestigious ballet school in Paris — that will cost over $300,000 — Happy dusts off the clubs and re-enters the tour (after nearly killing three people he was playing a round with to try and get back into shape).
From there, the guest appearances come thick and fast, and while half of them get spoiled in the trailer, there are some moments that will have you shout 'oh my god, they got THEM!?' while stars from the original movie (minus a few who have passed on either in the film or in real life) carry the film.
Christopher McDonald returns as Shooter McGavin, now committed to a mental hospital after going crazy because he didn't win, and ends up doing a lot of heavy lifting in the third act, Bad Bunny — yes, the rapper — plays an absolute blinder as the Tour's bus boy/Happy's caddy and is a highlight of the film, while Ben Stiller's character Hal L. trades in his nursing scrubs for AA chips (but don't worry, the physical labour remains). Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin and Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore in Happy Gilmore 2. Pic: Scott Yamano/Netflix
Of course, the film needs a big bad; and while Shooter wouldn't have been a necessarily terrible choice, the antagonists come in the form of the all too familiar new golf league that plans to destroy 'traditional' golf and tries to recruit some of golf's biggest pros (now where have we heard that recently?)
Happy ends up joining a motley crew of golfers (including our own Rory McIlroy) to try and take down the in your face 'Maxi Golf' league; and while this is where the final act drags, you can't blame the pros for trying (Rory, it's a good thing you finally got that grand slam, because an Oscar is unfortunately not in your future).
While the film uses almost too many clips from the original to fill in the gaps, and as we mentioned before the final game between the traditional golfers and the Maxi Golf golfers goes on, and on, and on… there is enough here to get plenty of chuckles out of viewers.
The slapstick comedy in some of the golf rounds are pretty great, the extent of Happy's alcoholism and his increasingly unlikely hip flasks are hilarious, while Christopher McDonald hits a hole in one returning as Shooter.
Could this have worked better as a cinematic release, like other legacy sequels that will be coming out later this year? Probably. But hey, I guess Netflix were willing to pay all those celebrities upfront for their appearances.
Extra.ie's rating: 3/5.
Happy Gilmore is available on Netflix.
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