Happy Gilmore 2 Review: Adam Sandler’s Happy Hasn’t Gotten Better With Age

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Release Date: 2025-07-25

Director: Kyle Newacheck

For approximately three decades now, the comedy scene has been graced by Adam Sandler following his breakthrough role in “Happy Gilmore.” This film was a breath of fresh air for those who fit into a certain age bracket – almost including myself, as I watched it a couple years after its release. The movie was delightful, amusing, and just a touch mischievous in all the perfect ways. Sandler had already been funny on “Saturday Night Live,” but he outdid himself in this film, creating a comedic persona that resonated with a new generation. I watched many of his early films, but my interest began to wane around the time of “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.” Some of the movies Sandler started releasing felt forced and unappealing, so I’ve had to weigh the pros and cons when considering whether to watch a new Adam Sandler film. In most cases, I’ve chosen not to.

The sequel to “Happy Gilmore” is out now. You might wonder which Adam Sandler we’ll see in this movie – the gentle, albeit somewhat violent one from the initial “Happy Gilmore,” or the less endearing character he portrays in his recent films. Regrettably, it seems to be more of the latter. Despite some amusing moments, such as references to the first film and Sandler’s interactions with his on-screen kids (Sunny Sandler plays his daughter, while Ethan Cutkosky, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Philip Fine Schneider, and Conor Sherry play his fictional sons), overall, it doesn’t deliver the same level of excitement as the original did for me.

While it was somewhat disheartening that this movie didn’t live up to the high expectations set by the first one, it’s worth noting that viewers can enjoy it in the comfort of their homes via Netflix. Although it doesn’t reach the same level as some exceptional Netflix productions like “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” it’s also not as poorly received as “Bright.” Instead, this film falls somewhere in the middle, making it a decent choice for activities such as folding laundry or multitasking with your phone during viewing.

The story is much more complicated than the first movie’s

Despite being bound by Netflix’s spoiler guidelines, I can share that the writers Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler employ acrobatics in crafting the story for “Happy Gilmore 2.” They skillfully maneuver the character of Happy Gilmore into financial distress, compelling him to return to golf. Initially, Happy Gilmore and Virginia (Julie Bowen) appear content with their lives, boasting five children and seemingly thriving. However, a devastating event occurs, causing Happy to turn towards alcohol and abandon golf. As the story unfolds, his daughter expresses an interest in attending ballet school, which comes with a hefty price tag. Unfortunately, by this point, Happy is jobless and working at a grocery store, struggling financially.

Having decided to turn his life around, he enters a golf tournament with the aim of earning substantial cash. Remarkably, he manages to finish sixth, leaving everyone astonished. However, unfortunately, he’s lost his daughter’s tuition money due to fines for poor conduct on the course. Notwithstanding, his impressive performance allows him entry into a new golf league led by Frank Manatee (Benny Safdie), called Maxi Golf. Despite Happy’s enthusiasm, he encounters strong disapproval from other players in the competition, including Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald), who is also participating. Now, Happy has two objectives: restoring the money for his daughter and sabotaging Maxi Golf. Although it’s a challenging undertaking, sometimes less can be more when it comes to movies, and this story, unfortunately, lacks depth in some areas.

Overstuffed with cameos

In this film’s sequel, an overabundance of celebrity appearances detracts from the original’s quality. While the initial movie did feature cameos, like Bob Barker who stood out, they generally served the story rather than vice versa. However, in this case, the numerous appearances — notably the excessive number of golfers — seem more like gratuitous additions. It’s understandable that golfers wanted to be part of it, and a few would have been acceptable, but there are reportedly 19 professional golfers included (compared to just two in the original). Furthermore, celebrities such as Post Malone, Eminem, and Travis Kelce appear to add little more than entertainment value. Interestingly, the filmmakers managed to incorporate all these cameos seamlessly into the plot.

I must admit, it seemed like a grand gathering, but the abundance of familiar faces in brief appearances felt a tad overwhelming. It gave off an impression that perhaps, Sandler is showcasing his extensive network of famous acquaintances or that the initial movie was such a hit that everyone wanted to join the sequel. Regardless of the reason, it distracted from the main event and left me focusing more on the cameos rather than the core content of the film. A pity, indeed.

Essentially, “Happy Gilmore 2” is light-hearted fun, not exactly a cinematic masterpiece, but also not terrible for a streaming movie. Compared to its predecessor, it’s even more fantastical and unrealistic, yet it manages to avoid being too disappointing. If you enjoyed the first film, I’d recommend giving this one a watch. It might not evoke the same comforting emotions as the original, but it could certainly be worse.

“Happy Gilmore 2” is available to stream on Netflix. 

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2025-07-25 18:00