Happy Gilmore 2 Trailer Fails to Impress Fans With Its Disappointing Reveal

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I’m quite fond of Adam Sandler movies, with a special place in my heart reserved for his early works when he was establishing Happy Madison Productions during the ’90s. One of my favorites from that era is “Happy Gilmore,” which stands out as one of his most absurd comedies from that decade. It’s one of the rare Sandler films that many people find uproariously funny, even those who aren’t typically fans of his particular brand of humor.

Back in 1996, the movie “Happy Gilmore” made its debut. Though there’s talk of a sequel, the recently unveiled trailer for “Happy Gilmore 2,” shown at the Netflix Tudum event on May 31, 2025, seems to lack some of the original charm. Despite my excitement for this film, I must admit that the trailer didn’t pique my interest as much as I had hoped.

What the Trailer Shows About ‘Happy Gilmore 2’

So far, details about the plot for “Happy Gilmore 2” have been scarce, only confirming it as a direct sequel to the original and the return of several original cast members. In December 2024, Netflix released a brief teaser, with another following in March 2025. Now that the trailer is out, we can catch a glimpse of what the story might entail.

To summarize, in the movie “Happy Gilmore,” Happy (played by Sandler) is a passionate but unskilled hockey player who dreams of going pro, yet consistently falls short. By happenstance, he unearths an unexpected gift for golf. Guided by his coach, Chubbs (the late Carl Weathers), he leverages this dormant talent to compete in tournaments and accumulate funds. His motivation behind this is a personal one: he aims to rescue his grandmother’s house from foreclosure due to unpaid taxes that have accrued over several decades.

At the conclusion of the film, Happy (Sandler) emerges victorious from a significant competition, leaving his snobby adversary and previous champion, Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald), feeling defeated. Additionally, he secures the affection of Virginia (Julie Bowen), and thanks to his earnings, his grandmother’s home is preserved, enabling her to return. It was an incredibly fortunate turn of events, as if everything were blooming beautifully.

The preview for Happy Gilmore 2 resumes after three decades, and it seems that Happy is facing financial troubles once more, as he requires a substantial amount of money urgently to enroll his daughter in an elite ballet academy. To tackle this issue, he decides to revisit what brought him success swiftly before – golfing. However, considering he hasn’t played for quite some time, it’s likely that he’ll require guidance to refresh his memory and regain focus on the sport.

The narrative seems to mirror the initial one, with an unexpected character, similar to the original, joining a tournament and subsequently employing a chance acquaintance (Bad Bunny) as his caddy. There are instances where he makes both favorable and unfavorable shots, and engages in numerous conflicts with adversaries. Familiar characters reappear, such as Ben Stiller portraying the antagonistic, cruel, and abusive orderly Hal, who had previously mistreated Grandma (a fact that Happy was unaware of). Additionally, there are some delightful new additions, like Lavell Crawford playing the son of Chubbs, a heartwarming tribute to Weathers’ memory.

The ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Trailer Lacks Heart, Humor, and a Clear Plot

And These New Characters Don’t Look Great

From what I’ve seen in the trailer, it seems the script might be lacking originality. Despite my eagerness for this movie since its announcement, the plotline seems like a rehash of the first one. It’s understandable that they want to bring back Happy to the golf course, catering to fans of the original. However, I can’t help but wonder if there’s a way to differentiate this sequel from the original while staying true to the characters and the storyline. Creativity is key in crafting an excellent sequel.

I’ve always admired how Sandler consistently incorporates his family and friends into his recent works, demonstrating a unique commitment to camaraderie. To me, it seems that he values relationships over popular opinion in this regard. Remarkably, he played a significant role in keeping Rob Schneider’s career afloat during the ’90s by casting him in multiple films, and Steve Buscemi was also a frequent collaborator of Sandler’s. Nevertheless, for a film like this, I believe it would have been beneficial to cast a more diverse group of actors as well.

In the upcoming sequel to the beloved movie, “Happy Gilmore 2,” Sandler’s daughter, Sunny Sandler, who graces the screen, is an exceptional actress, as demonstrated in “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah.” However, when it comes to a character and film that fans have cherished for years, she appears misplaced, even somewhat disruptive, within the role. Fans yearn to experience Happy Gilmore, not Adam Sandler. The inclusion of Sandler’s wife Jackie and other daughter Sadie in the movie lessens the nostalgic atmosphere of the film, making “Happy Gilmore 2” feel more like a family project for Sandler rather than a production intended to cater to fans. To add to this, the three of them collectively take up a considerable portion of the short trailer, appearing no fewer than seven times across the two-and-a-half minutes.

In simpler terms, the new sequel appears to reference many elements from the original film – something fans have been eagerly anticipating for almost 30 years. However, based on the trailer, these references seem mismatched or out of place, lacking a consistent theme. It’s important to note that these brief moments are snippets taken from various parts of the movie, as is common with trailers. Yet, there seems to be an overall disconnect or inconsistency in the footage presented. A question arises as to why Hal, for instance, is brought back, if not just for a cameo by Stiller; the trailer doesn’t fully capture my initial excitement about the movie, leaving me curious to see the full film to understand the reasoning behind these choices.

In the latest trailer, certain characters such as McDonald and Bowen seem to have limited screen presence. Despite this, they held significant roles in the original series, with McDonald being a crucial part of the dynamic between him and Happy. Although he was more prominently featured in earlier trailers, McDonald appears only once at the end. As for Bowen, her character seems underutilized, appearing barely in the new trailer. However, it’s important to note that she played a pivotal role in shaping Happy into who he is today and should not be relegated to mere background decoration.

At first glance, it seemed like some exciting celebrity appearances were absent from the trailer, perhaps deliberately kept secret until the movie’s premiere. However, upon closer examination, repeated views, and frame-by-frame analysis, several big names started to surface, such as Travis Kelce, Eminem (who seems to be playing the son of the original heckler, portrayed by the late Joe Flaherty), Post Malone, Margaret Qualley, Eric Andre, and Kevin Nealon. While many are brief cameos that could easily be missed, this strategy might have been intended to encourage viewers to rewatch the trailer frequently. Yet, a longer clip featuring one or two of these high-profile guest stars would have created a stronger impression.

Did the ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Trailer Fall Victim to Bad Editing?

Although I wasn’t overly thrilled by the trailer for Happy Gilmore 2, I’m planning to catch it when it streams on Netflix on July 25, 2025. However, I have some apprehensions about it. I can only hope that this underwhelming trailer is just a result of poor editing and not an indication of the film’s overall quality. Perhaps they chose to keep the best jokes secret to prevent spoilers, but in doing so, they didn’t reveal much to excite the fans.

Crafting a movie trailer is an intricate act of revealing just enough to pique interest without giving away every exciting scene from the film itself. However, the trailer for Happy Gilmore 2 seems to have missed its target entirely. This sequel appears to be geared towards fans of the initial movie – those who eagerly bought cinema tickets or rented DVDs to enjoy the hilarious antics. As one such fan, I was hoping for a focus on Happy, Virginia, Shooter, and even Crawford rather than Weathers. A fresh narrative was expected instead of a rehash of the original storyline. Regrettably, the trailer hints at recycled content with an emphasis on new characters, failing to deliver on both accounts.

Could be: It’s possible that the movie itself will demonstrate that the trailer didn’t do it justice. Sandler himself seems to believe that his fans will flock to see the film regardless of the quality of the preview. Upon closer inspection, I find myself noticing more and more details, which makes me appreciate it even more. However, my first impression after watching the major reveal in this trailer left me wanting more excitement for the next one. Frankly, I think the cost for this new version is overpriced. Stream Happy Gilmore 2 on Netflix on July 25, 2025.

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2025-06-04 02:32