Happy Gilmore 2

I love Adam Sandler movies and I really wanted to love this movie. Sadly it's just not great. Shooter, Happy, and Hal L have bright spots but most of the jokes fell flat and the pacing was all over the place. The best way to describe this movie is a recycling of all the memorable jokes from the original but with worse delivery. Unfortunately Carl Weathers passed away so the story had to be rewritten. I would've rather seen a more grounded story with less cameos. The Sandman is still the GOAT and I'll watch every movie he makes.

The first Act is a depressing collection of cameos, including his entire immediate family, wife and two daughters. One of them goes all Sophia Coppola and has a major recurring role. You know that is not a good sign. The second Act is the Happy Gilmore we all came to see and it's great. The comeback montage / Rocky style tribute to Carl Weathers, his first time back on the real golf course, all the call backs and the new schtick, and now the cameos are fun. But then.......the WTAF third Act. "Regular" golf v Maxi golf was just stupid. Not Happy Gilmore silly, just stupid. And it ruined the whole thing.

40 minutes in, and this was looking very good. Similar beats to the original, with great cameos and multiple laughs. Sandler eases back into Happy like it's 1996, and familiar faces are everywhere.

But suddenly, things take a wild turn, and we are stuck in a bonkers sequel with no semblance of reality or cohesion. It is so bonkers that much of the last hour is indescribable.

Essentially Happy needs to raise money again to send his daughter to ballet school. He has to return to golf, which is being hijacked by a gingivitis addled fruit loop with grand plans to turn golf into MTV x XFL.

I didn't expect much, but was pleasantly surprised early on, particularly with Happy's hilarious buffoon sons. Unfortunately, we are left with another Zoolander 2 style debacle. 5/10.

Like someone else wrote, the first half of the movie was actually a fun throwback. Loved the usage of John Daly and Happy's sons. Loved that so many golf legends got cameos as well. I am NOT a movie snob and the original Happy Gilmore is one of my favorites. That said... the entire "Bad Guy Tournament" was just... dumb. Movie threw out everything that made the original great. It was like 2 different movies, and I found myself playing on my phone.

It's been unfortunate to see the decline in Adam Sandler comedies over the years and this doesn't redeem it. The only thing this sequel had going for it was the boatload of cameos and returning characters, outside of that it fell flat. The story was below average and acting was even worse. Severe lack of laughs as the entire comedic approach felt geared toward 12 year olds.

I also appreciate getting the family involved but let's be real, only one of Sandlers daughters can act.