Happy Gilmore 2 review – Adam Sandler’s Netflix sequel is strictly for the fans | Adam Sandler

Completely satisfied Gilmore 2, the much-anticipated follow-up to the canonical sports activities comedy that dominated popular culture on the flip of the century, opens with Adam Sandler’s irascible hero catching viewers up on the previous 29 years.After humiliating tour nemesis Shooter McGavin (an on-form Christopher McDonald) within the massive match and driving off into the sundown with the woman, they marry and have 5 youngsters as Completely satisfied’s prosperity continues unbidden. He considers stepping again from the sport as his years and wealth stack up, however retains going on the encouragement of his expensive Virginia (Julie Bowen). However when Completely satisfied by chance kills her with a shanked tee shot, a shock that comes within the first two minutes, his world is much more upended than it was after we met him as an orphan in 1996.This time, as a substitute of getting to desert his old flame (hockey) to chase down a pair hundred grand in cardboard checks to avoid wasting grandma’s home, he abruptly retires to be extra current for his youngsters and assumes the payments are lined till the feds circle again to take grandma’s home – and the Ferrari. Together with his 4 boys sufficiently old to fend for themselves, type of, he strikes right into a ramshackle triplex on the sketchy facet of city along with his younger daughter, Vienna (performed by Sunny Sandler, Adam Sandler’s youngest daughter), and falls into alcoholism. It isn’t till Vienna’s ballet teacher (performed by Jackie Sandler, Adam Sandler’s spouse) tells Completely satisfied that Vienna has the expertise to check at a prestigious firm in Paris that he turns into motivated to select up his membership bag and attempt to elevate the schooling cash. However the comeback will get sophisticated when Completely satisfied picks up a DUI in a municipal course karting accident and an vitality drink hustle bro provides him satisfaction of place in an upstart golf tour that’s purpose-built to take down the institution. (Sound acquainted?)Like most sequels, Completely satisfied Gilmore 2 doesn’t fairly reside as much as its predecessor, the religious successor to Caddyshack. But it surely received’t matter to diehard followers who by no means stopped quoting strains from the unique. I nonetheless can’t let a limousine cross with out reflexively muttering “have to be Burt Reynolds”, the road that launched McGavin. That’s to not say the yarn Sandler and co-writer Tim Herlihy stitched collectively is not any enjoyable. They nonetheless handle to get of their share of recurring gags (Completely satisfied making flasks out of something that comes handy: a membership brush, a TV distant) whereas divvying up these different comedy moments amongst their SNL buddies (Kevin Nealon, Jon Lovitz) and cherished Sandler firm regulars (Rob Schneider, Steve Buscemi). They even handle to pay tribute to the actors who died between movies – not least the late nice Carl Weathers, AKA Chubbs the one-handed golf professional – by staging a combat between Completely satisfied and McGavin in a cemetery, itself a tribute to the gameshow host Bob Barker’s iconic authentic cameo.However the place the primary Completely satisfied Gilmore was the story of a rank outsider’s takeover of the sport, on this installment it’s the opposite means round. Completely satisfied isn’t only a king of the lengthy ball, however a peer to rival Tiger Woods and different greats. Lee Trevino, the one professional golfer who appeared within the 1996 movie, finds himself within the sequel surrounded by greats of right now (Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele) and yesteryear (Jack Nicklaus, Fred {Couples}). John Daly, whose precise rollercoaster life little question impressed Completely satisfied’s second act, lives in Completely satisfied’s storage. Scottie Scheffler sends up his weird arrest on the 2024 PGA Championship and Will Zalatoris lastly will get to dine out on his uncanny resemblance to Completely satisfied’s very first caddie. If the unique Completely satisfied Gilmore was meant as a love letter to the sport, it’s clear 30 years on that the skilled golf neighborhood bought the message.Probably the most attention-grabbing factor concerning the sequel is its dedication to defending the sport and its traditions – a trigger Completely satisfied ultimately takes along with serving to Vienna understand her ballet dream, whereas reckoning with the truth that everybody can smash the lengthy ball now. All of the whereas, the scenes of Completely satisfied teeing off on a professional store simulator and weekend warriors busting chops communicate to the franchise’s contribution to creating the sport extra approachable. Now, the unwavering give attention to this theme doesn’t fully redeem the movie’s woolier parts – the countless sports activities cameos (from Travis Kelce to the WNBA’s Kelsey Plum), the rampant nepotism (once more: each member of Sandler’s instant household is featured), the compelled integration of Name Her Daddy and different digital media platforms, and a batshit third act that pulls out the movie’s two-hour runtime. But it surely does make them chafe a bit much less. All of the whereas, Dangerous Bunny offers extra salve within the position as Completely satisfied’s busboy turned caddie, Oscar, and proves to be a stunning and pleasant chortle riot.For many who aren’t into golf or weren’t round for SNL on the flip of the century, Completely satisfied Gilmore 2 may effectively sail overhead like a drive from the person himself. However for the generations who nonetheless quote summer time comedies from eons in the past (ahem), Sandler’s second spherical provides a refreshing journey down reminiscence lane – to see what new hijinks the assisted residing orderly (Ben Stiller) and the IRS agent (Robert Smigel) are as much as, and if McGavin, the best villain in sports activities film historical past, ever will get his revenge. All the things else – relics of an easier, much less severe time maybe – is par for the course. This text was amended on 25 July 2025. An earlier model mentioned Dangerous Bunny performed a waiter within the film as a substitute of a busboy.