'Happy Gilmore 2' is unhinged...in a good way

Contributor
Jael Rucker
'Happy Gilmore 2' is unhinged...in a good way image

Netflix

Got “Happy Gilmore 2” on your watch list this weekend?

You aren’t alone, as the highly anticipated sequel has just made its debut on Netflix. The follow-up isn’t the original, nor does it promise to be. It does, however, draw plenty of callbacks to the 1996 original through flashbacks and other enjoyable Easter eggs. Directed by Kyle Newacheck, I can’t say “Happy Gilmore 2” brings anything new or innovative to the table, as it’s your classic Adam Sandler comedy—funny and vulgar at times, with a few dad jokes mixed in between for good measure.

The film also has its fair share of unhinged moments. Take the beginning, for example. It’s revealed that Happy (Sandler) accidentally killed his beloved wife, Virginia (Julie Bowen), by accidentally hitting her with a golf ball. This isn’t a scenario you will find in any movie other than a “Happy Gilmore” one, which, weirdly enough, makes it fitting. Understandably, Happy is also not in a great place in the time following his wife's passing, struggling with alcoholism and depression. On top of that, his glory days are over, as he’s lost his home and now has to work a job at the supermarket

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Happy eventually decides to return to golf as his daughter, Vienna (Sunny Sandler), has been accepted into the Paris Opera Ballet School, which costs a whopping $ 75,000 a year. He also addresses his addiction issues at a support center led by the kooky Val (Ben Stiller). The star-studded appearances are packed as well, with names like Travis Kelce, Reggie Bush, Bryson DeChambeau, John Daly, Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and more. Other notable celebrity names include Post Malone, Guy Fieri, Cam’ron, Eminem and plenty of others.

Oh, and Shooter McGavin isn’t his arch-nemesis this go-round; it’s actually a newly-launched golf group called Maxi Golf he’s dealing with. But, of course, there is always a catch. These golfers at Maxi aren’t just your standard top-of-the-line golfers; they’ve had a special surgery to tear apart a ligament in their hip. The reason? Not only does the surgery help them to become better golfers, it also allows them to naturally replicate Happy’s skyborne drive that, well, he’s never had to have a special surgery that splits his hip ligaments to achieve. 

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Netflix

My final thoughts? “Happy Gilmore 2” is enjoyable if you take it for what it is. It’s not the best movie ever, it’s not the best sports film ever, it’s not Adam Sandler’s best/funniest movie and it’s not the original 1996 film…nor does it try to be. If you accept that ahead of time, you’ll definitely get enjoyment from it.

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