The reason that Happy Gilmore, which came out in 1996 at the very beginning of the Adam Sandler era, has held up so well is that it's so ridiculous. It's timeless for the same reason. The actors in the original might seem dated, but the situation is classic. A hockey player turned decent golfer in the span of a week is ludicrous.
In fact, there is a bit of Charlie Chaplin charm to it. The key is not to wink at the audience. Played straight, as Sandler and the rest of the fantastic comedic cast to in the first film, it works. If there is any hint that the cast thinks the plot is as silly as it is, it fails.
Happy Gilmore 2, the sequel released on Netflix this weekend, which is 29 years in the making, had a very thin margin for success. Too much like the original, and we would be bored. After all, the key to any successful sequel is to be the same as the original movie, only different.
If you haven't yet seen the new film (and let's assume you haven't), the new Gilmore doesn't change the sentiments so much as augment the craziness. From here on, be warned, there might be some spoilers involved.
At the beginning of the film, we learn that Happy and his wife, Virginia (Julie Bowen), have had five children, four boys and one girl, Vienna (played by the immensely talented daughter of Sandler, Sunny). We also find out that Virginia has died in an odd and tragic golfing accident.
This affects the entire film, of course. It is uncertain why the filmmakers killed off the character. Reportedly, Bowen herself had the idea that the movie needed to have some adversity to begin the events that would follow. Happy is in pain, the family loses their home, and moves into a less fancy place, and Happy is drinking far too much.
Fans on social media have voiced their opinion that the death of Virginia was unnecessary. It was. The film could have had other adversity, and that might have been the better path. After all, we watch Happy Gilmore for the laughs, not anything overdramatized.
Happy's drinking also supplies some gags. There is a motif of different vessels that contain his alcohol. It's slightly funny, but also quite sad.
The real tension in the film occurs because of Benny Safdie's Frank Manatee trying to start up a breakoff tour, Maxi Golf, from the PGA. This is clearly meant to be a play on the real-life LIV and the PGA situation. The difference here is that golfers in Maxi Golf have had a surgical procedure to allow them to drive the ball further. It's ridiculous, just as things should be in the Happy franchise.
Frank Manatee is quite evil and does not play fair. He runs things much like Dr. Evil does in the Austin Powers franchise. Safdie does a splendid job with the role.
One likely understands how the film will end. Happy Gilmore has to be on the winning side, get over his drinking problem, and move on with life. To end the film with him losing would be a waste, though killing off Virginia at the beginning meant all bets were off. Viewers, however, will likely be satisfied with the end.
This is especially true in the case of the first film's antagonist, Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald). When we first see Shooter in the sequel, he is in a mental facility, still dealing with losing to Happy in the first movie. Sandler and the film creators could have turned Shooter into a sad and meaningless character. Instead, he plays an important part at the end that is fulfilling.
As far as cameos, there are, of course, many. Bad Bunny (playing under his birth name of Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) plays Oscar Mejias, and his role is more fleshed out as Happy's caddy. Bad Bunny plays the character relatively understated, which works perfectly.
Travis Kelce also has a slightly bigger role, but had his character not been involved, the film would have lost nothing. That is meant as no offense to Kelce. The character was just badly drawn.
Plenty of real-world golfers, such as Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, appear, too. Scheffler isn't bad in his small role either. Plus, golf fans will like a certain thing that happens to him that echoes a real-life experience.
Is Happy Gilmore 2 worth seeing? Sure, but if you aren't a fan of Adam Sandler's films, you probably won't like it. The film wasn't going for Oscars. It was meant to be fluffy fun. It is, but not as fun as the original in the franchise.
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