Nearly thirty years after his wild rise in the golf world, Happy Gilmore is back, older, rougher, and deep into the bottle. He hasn’t touched a golf club in over a decade. Now, dealing with personal loss and stuck in a rut, Happy (Adam Sandler) comes out of retirement with one goal: to help send his daughter Vienna (Sunny Sandler) to ballet school in Paris.
To make that happen, he jumps into a new, over-the-top version of pro golf called Maxi Golf, founded by energy drink CEO Frank Manatee (Benny Safdie). Sponsorships, social media influencers, and extreme stunts fuel this version, threatening to derail traditional golf for good. What follows is a chaotic mix of old-school heart and modern spectacle, filled with nostalgic references, wild gags, and yes, plenty of expletive-filled, club-throwing tantrums.
As with most Happy Madison productions, Happy Gilmore 2 is not here to give you a film that has some deeper meaning. You’re getting outrageous slapstick and humor that doesn’t always land. Honestly, if you expect anything more, you’re going to be disappointed. Sandler knows precisely what this sequel should be, and he fully embraces it. He plays Happy the way fans remember him: loud, clumsy, unpredictable, and somehow still lovable.
Surprisingly, it’s the father-daughter dynamic that gives the film some heart. Sunny Sandler brings charm to Vienna, and their relationship creates real stakes that feel more genuine than expected in a movie like this. Happy’s moments with Julie Bowen’s Virginia and rival Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald) also provide a bit of emotional depth, despite their ridiculous circumstances. I found myself saying “Really!?” more than once, which is to be expected when watching an Adam Sandler comedy.
The film also features plenty of cameos. Golf legends like Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, and John Daly make appearances, along with big names like Bad Bunny, Eminem, and Travis Kelce. Ben Stiller’s return as Hal, the sadistic nursing home orderly, is a highlight as the head of Happy’s alcoholic anonymous support group. And in a touching nod, the movie includes subtle tributes to late cast members like Carl Weathers and Joseph O’Flaherty, which longtime fans will appreciate.
However, for all the familiar fun, the movie doesn’t exactly break new ground. Most of the story is just callbacks to the best moments of the first film, and at times it plays more like a reunion special than a true sequel. Some celebrity cameos seem forced, focusing more on fan service than storytelling, and they occasionally slow the film’s pace. The tone can also feel uneven. There’s a lot of grief and midlife reflection mixed in with the silliness, and not all of it blends well. The multiple character deaths add weight, but they also stifle the energy in parts where the film should be soaring.
Happy Gilmore 2 isn’t a hole-in-one, but it’s a respectable par. If you loved the original, you’ll likely enjoy seeing these characters back in action. For me, there were enough solid laughs to make it worth watching. Sandler still has plenty of chaotic, comic energy left, even if the story itself plays it safe.
In the end, this movie is more about honoring its legacy than reinventing or evolving it. For many fans, that’s perfectly fine. It’s warm, goofy, and nostalgic. While it might not draw in new viewers, it will definitely give longtime fans exactly what they want.
