‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Is Nearly 30 Years Too Late

Everyone’s favorite angry person, Happy Gilmore, returns in, well, Happy Gilmore 2.

The sequel releases 29 years after the original movie on Netflix – Adam Sandler’s new home for his projects – and follows the now-retired Happy, who needs cash to pay for his daughter’s ballet school so he’s forced to tee off once again. Sounds a lot similar to the premise for the original film, doesn’t it?

Happy Gilmore remains a cherished movie among ’90s comedy lovers. It’s the prototype for the shouty Adam Sandler role, which we have seen in countless other films, but there’s something satisfying about its rebellious coming-of-age story, as Happy trades in his hockey dreams to become a pro golfer in order to help his grandmother pay her taxes. It has both its heart and mouth in the right places. A sequel always made sense, since Happy is a character that audiences would love to see more of again, but unfortunately, Happy Gilmore 2 is 29 years too late.

Adam Sandler’s schtick isn’t funny anymore – it’s annoying

Happy Gilmore possesses quite the temper. In a way, it’s his driving force. His anger fuels his formidable ability to smash a golf ball to incredible distances. Yet, if someone says something off color to him, he isn’t afraid to throw hands, no matter where or when. Not exactly gentlemanly behavior on the golf course, hence him having to learn how to tone down the outbursts in order to succeed.

It’s difficult to imagine anyone but Adam Sandler playing this role. He’s become so identifiable with Happy that it’s a character he’s adapted for other movies since then. You see, Sandler’s comedy is rooted in slapstick whereby he often plays shouty characters to accentuate the escalating situations. In the ’90s, this approach felt novel, as Sandler managed to carve out his own niche in a genre that desperately required an injection of freshness. Unsurprisingly, Sandler embarked on a phenomenal stretch of movies, playing riffs of the same character in Big Daddy, The Waterboy, and The Wedding Singer. Sure, no one looked at him like he was the next Robin Williams or anything, but Sandler’s movies hit the spot, while many of them remain beloved to this day. It was all harmless fun.

Sandler’s comedy hasn’t grown up with the audience, though. In fact, it’s probably regressed further. His latest movies for Netflix have been painful to sit through, and it’s clear that what worked in the ’90s doesn’t connect nowadays. Look, Sandler was never considered a critical darling by any means, but some of his newer movies have scraped the bottom of the toilet bowl. They’re stinkers by every stretch of the word, with even the most diehard supporters of the Sandman having to admit that his best comedic days are behind him.

‘Happy Gilmore 2’ is likely to be a hit anyway

Here’s the funny part: no matter what’s said about Happy Gilmore 2 or how bad it turns out to be, it’s likely to be the top film on Netflix for a few weeks. There’s a reason that Netflix is in the Adam Sandler business: his movies bring in eyeballs, because of the nostalgia of films like Happy Gilmore and The Wedding Singer. Yeah, people will complain to their family and friends that his movies are dumb and pointless, but since it’s already a part of their Netflix subscription, they’re more likely to accept less-than-mediocre content without too much fuss. Seriously, have you noticed how most people shrugged off the horrible Hubie Halloween instead of cancelling Netflix in protest? That would have been more than enough reason to pull the plug and never look back!

The key to Sandler’s success is that he isn’t asking for $200 million to create sci-fi epics here. His movies prove to be on the cheaper side, minimizing the investment risk for Netflix. In return, the streaming giant receives disposable entertainment – headlined by a nostalgic actor – that keeps people on the platform, even if they’re only meh about the movies. Make no mistake about it, there’s no point to Happy Gilmore 2 now – it should have been done in the ’90s or early 2000s at the latest – but Netflix and Sandler don’t care. They’re getting out of it exactly what they wanted in the end: your viewing time and subscription fees. Don’t be surprised if it leads to Happy Gilmore 3 too.

Happy Gilmore 2 comes to Netflix July 25, 2025.