HAPPY GILMORE 2 swings for nostalgia, and sadly ends up in the sand trap.
The 1996 original was one of those 90s comfort food films that didn’t age well, but brings back nostalgia for any child of that era. It also helped launch Adam Sandler’s film career, making him one of the more consistent former-SNL box office stars of that generation.
Numerous callbacks and ridiculous cameos bog down the sequel that attempts to hide the fact that the film is not very good. Also, the themes of this film are dark. We are talking grief, alcoholism, and death, all trying to fit into fart jokes. Most of it doesn’t work, except for the heartfelt relationship between Gilmore and his daughter (played by Sandler’s real-life daughter).
If you’re a longtime fan of Adam Sandler, HAPPY GILMORE 2 has about 15 minutes of funny moments worth watching. However, it’s a long eighteen holes to get there.
It’s available on Netflix.