‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Review: A Familiar Swing with Laughs, Legends, and a Shot at Redemption

Nearly three decades after Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore first took a hockey stick to the golf world, the hot-headed hero returns, older, wiser…actually not wiser somehow he’s still swinging for the fences. Happy Gilmore 2 doesn’t quite capture the chaotic charm of its cult-classic predecessor, but it comes close enough to justify the return trip. For longtime fans, this is less a sequel than a nostalgic reunion. The laughs are familiar, the faces even more so, and the story—while shaggy—is carried by a surprisingly heartfelt core. Not every swing lands perfectly, it’s a solid effort that keeps the spirit of the original alive.

Happy’s life since his first tour victory is charted in a rapid-fire montage, with golf trophies stacking up as fast as his children. He’s gone from amateur misfit to household name, with Virginia (Julie Bowen) by his side and five kids in tow. But a freak accident early on jolts the story into unexpected territory, as Happy tries to secure his daughter’s future.

Vienna (Sunny Sandler) dreams of attending a prestigious ballet school, and her father, now a washed-up alcoholic living in a run-down triplex, sees one last shot at redemption, as Vienna’s ballet tuition isn’t cheap. It’s a familiar sports-comedy setup, but this time the stakes feel more grounded and maybe a little more grown-up. It’s a jarring turn, but it gives the film something its predecessor never really aimed for: emotional depth.

Happy finds himself pursued by a rogue golf tour designed to shake up the sport, led by Frank Manatee (Benny Safdie), a billionaire bro with a thirst for disruption. If Happy Gilmore was about an outsider storming the gates of the establishment, the sequel flips the script: now, Happy is the old guard, fighting to preserve what he once crashed into.

Safdie’s villain, Manatee, is 100% more caricature than character, but he’s a solid foil, less menacing than Shooter McGavin, but just as delusional. Speaking of Shooter, Christopher McDonald returns with that same smarmy swagger that made him a cult favorite nearly 30 years ago. Shooter may be institutionalized and stewing in decades of bitterness, but McDonald plays him with a twisted glee that steals every scene he’s in. Bad Bunny, was also a nice surprise—his turn as Happy’s quirky caddie Oscar adds just the right amount of offbeat energy, he definitely has a knack for comedy.

It’s proudly silly, sometimes crude, and openly sentimental, but that mix is part of its charm.

Unsurprisingly, the film leans heavily on Sandler’s real-life entourage. Sunny Sandler turns in a sweet, sincere performance as Vienna, while Jackie Sandler and other family members pop up in various roles. The nepotism is laid on thick, but it’s hard to begrudge Sandler for making movies with the people he loves. Golf fans will appreciate the slew of pro cameos. Legends like Jack Nicklaus and Fred Couples share screen time with modern stars like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, who gets a clever nod to his real-life PGA arrest. The cameos are hit-or-miss, but they reinforce a point: this franchise, goofy as it is, genuinely loves the game.

Tonally, Happy Gilmore 2 sticks close to what fans love. It’s proudly silly, sometimes crude, and openly sentimental, but that mix is part of its charm. While the third act gets a little chaotic and overlong, the film still manages to land plenty of solid laughs. The movie embraces its goofy roots. But underneath the slapstick, it surprises with flashes of real heart.

Yes, there’s some clutter. Yes, the plot meanders. And yes, Steve Buscemi urinates into a mailbox within the first ten minutes. But when viewed through the lens of Sandler’s cinematic universe, the chaos feels right at home and honestly, if you don’t know what you’re getting into by now, have you even watched a Sandler movie in the last 30 years?

The film doesn’t try to top the original—and wisely so. It just wants to give Happy one more ride, one more tournament, one more ridiculous showdown. It’s not flawless. It’s not even especially polished. But it is a fun ride and there’s plenty to put a smile on your face.

Happy Gilmore 2 is now available to stream on Netflix.

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