Why Happy Gilmore 2 Strikes Out Despite Adam Sandler’s Comeback
Avery Sinclair here, and oh, this should be good. Ready for a trip down disappointment lane?
Happy Gilmore 2 reunites Adam Sandler with his iconic hockey-loving golfer, but nostalgia alone can’t fix all the problems. Nearly three decades after the original’s cult success, this sequel arrives with big expectations, a handful of callbacks, and plenty of groans from critics. Despite Sandler’s familiar charm, the script struggles to recapture the offbeat energy that made the 1996 classic a hit.
The plot picks up with Happy stuck in a midlife slump, trading NHL dreams for a teaching gig at a sleepy Florida golf academy. When a viral video of his trademark “win-at-any-cost” swing goes viral, the PGA extends an invitation to a glitzy charity tournament. What follows is an uneven mix of fish-out-of-water hijinks, questionable cameos, and the same pratfalls that once felt fresh. Director Dennis Dugan returns behind the camera, but the pacing often mirrors sand traps rather than smooth fairways.
Sandler himself still nails Happy’s unfiltered zingers, and Christopher McDonald’s Shooter McGavin cameo delivers a nostalgic punch. However, new supporting players including rising comedian Tara Morgan never get enough screen time to make an impact. Fans hoping for that old Gilmore-McGavin rivalry brim with, well, mild irritation. The chemistry feels pasted on, as if the sequel is ticking off boxes rather than forging new comic ground.
What about the laughs? A few gags land, particularly Happy’s meltdown during a charity auction. Yet, many jokes recycle the same over-the-top sound effects and pratfall humor from the 1990s. Variety noted that “the sequel feels like a greatest-hits tribute lacking fresh hits,” and Rotten Tomatoes currently sits at a lukewarm 34 percent. Audience scores hover around 5 out of 10 on Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb, underlining that even die-hard Sandler fans are left underwhelmed.
Box office projections estimate a $25 million opening weekend, solid but unspectacular given the film’s $45 million budget. In comparison, the original Happy Gilmore grossed over $40 million domestically in 1996 – an impressive feat given ticket prices back then. The sequel’s modest earnings suggest that star power and nostalgia can only carry a golf ball so far.
So where does that leave Happy Gilmore 2? It’s a serviceable diversion if you’re in the mood for lighthearted silliness and relief from blockbuster fatigue. But if you were expecting that same underdog magic and sharp-edged satire, prepare to be bogeyed. Happy Gilmore 2 reminds us that some classics are best left untouched, or at least treated with new material that genuinely surprises.
And that’s today’s dose of reality. You’re welcome.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, Variety, Rotten Tomatoes
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
