Happy Gilmore 2
Happy Gilmore 2
Revisit Happy Gilmore's golf career after his win in the Tour Championship.
Hipster ZOMBIE reviewedJuly 26, 2025
I went into Happy Gilmore 2 with cautious optimism. The original Happy Gilmore is a cult classic — a perfect blend of Adam Sandler’s early unhinged charm and heartfelt underdog storytelling. So when this sequel teed up nearly three decades later, I braced myself for recycled gags and phoned-in performances. To my surprise, the first two-thirds of the movie are… actually kind of fun.
The fact that I didn’t turn it off after the first 10 minutes should be enough of an achievement. Sandler for the last couple of years has churned out sloppy comedies filled with unfunny fart jokes. But with Gilmore 2 I actually found myself having a good time and it wasn’t just because the first one is one of my all time favorite films.
Yes, it’s dumb. Yes, it’s mindless. But it’s also undeniably entertaining. The film leans into its absurdity in a way that feels self-aware, delivering just enough fresh energy to justify its existence. Watching Happy back on the green, dealing with a new generation of golfers and trying to stay relevant, is goofy but enjoyable. The pacing is brisk, the setups are just ridiculous enough to work, and the comedic rhythm mostly lands. It’s comfort food for fans of the original.
A big part of that success lies with the new cast. John Daly, playing a fictionalized version of himself, is a delight — dry, unhelpful, and always ready with a biting one-liner. Bad Bunny as Oscar, the waiter turned caddie, steals every scene he’s in. And Happy’s four sons — played with surprising comedic timing and warmth — bring a fresh dynamic to the story. Honestly, if Sandler and co. had the guts, Happy’s Kids could easily be spun off into their own film. There’s enough chemistry and character there to carry the franchise forward.
Unfortunately, the back third of Happy Gilmore 2 collapses under the weight of its worst instincts. It’s like Sandler gets nervous and retreats to the same tired playbook: shouty rants, gross-out gags, and bizarre detours that feel stuck in 2002. The movie starts throwing everything at the screen in the hope that something sticks — but most of it doesn’t. The comedy turns frantic and overstays its welcome, losing the surprising momentum it had built.
Then there’s the nostalgia — or rather, the overuse of it. Flashbacks to the original film are peppered throughout, and by the climax we’re watching extended clips from Happy Gilmore as if the filmmakers forgot they’re supposed to be telling a new story. Cameos from old cast members feel obligatory rather than earned, and some are downright awkward, clearly there for applause breaks that never come.
By the end, Happy Gilmore 2 feels less like a return to form and more like a reminder of how hard it is to recapture lightning in a bottle. Still, I’ll give it credit: it almost got there. For two-thirds of its runtime, I was grinning like an idiot, enjoying the ride. And for a legacy sequel in 2025, that’s more than I expected.