Happy Gilmore 2 Movie Review: Adam Sandler returns with a swing that’s more nostalgia than novelty

The first film revolved around a short-tempered hockey player who took his wild energy to the golf course to win back his grandmother’s house.

‘Happy Gilmore 2,’ directed by Kyle Newacheck, was released on 25th July on Netflix and stars Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, Benny Safdie, Ben Stiller, and Steve Buscemi.

A sequel that plays to the fans

‘Happy Gilmore 2’ is a film that will undoubtedly bring a smile to the faces of die-hard fans of the 1996 original, but it’s unlikely to work the same magic on newcomers. The tone is deliberately wacky and self-aware, and the plot picks up years after we last saw Happy on the golf course. Co-written once again by Adam Sandler and Tim Herlihy, the film attempts to recapture the original’s chaotic spirit and humour, even if it doesn’t quite match its charm or freshness.

The first film revolved around a short-tempered hockey player who took his wild energy to the golf course to win back his grandmother’s house. This time, Happy is trying to raise money so that his talented daughter can attend a prestigious ballet school in Paris. Like its predecessor, the sequel is a goofy sports comedy filled with eccentric characters and a generous serving of absurdity.

From glory to grind

The film opens with a montage of Happy Gilmore’s (Adam Sandler) glory days—his win at the 98th US Open, the video games, his fame, and even multiple hosting gigs at Saturday Night Live. But that era is long gone.

A freak accident has taken away his wife, and he’s now a single father of five—four sons and a daughter—grappling with a messy household and a heavy drinking problem. When his daughter secures admission to a prestigious ballet school in Paris, the $75,000 required for her first-year tuition becomes the new mountain to climb.

With his back against the wall, Happy picks up the golf club once again. However, things take a sharp turn when billionaire Frank Manatee (Benny Safdie) enters the scene—a manipulative businessman with plans to revolutionise the game to suit his brand. Happy, who stands firmly for the integrity of traditional golfing, takes on Frank’s challenge to preserve the soul of the sport in his own chaotic way.

Nostalgia over logic

The story runs on nostalgia and doesn’t shy away from it. There are countless throwbacks and references, from returning characters like Julie Bowen and Ben Stiller to cameos by legendary golfers. The humour, however, often leans into slapstick and recycled jokes rather than crafting anything genuinely new.

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The first half has its moments—especially in the way it uses flashbacks and comic timing to keep things breezy—but once the tournament kicks off, the film starts to drag. The pacing becomes uneven, and many gags begin to feel stretched. There's a clear attempt to update the film's style for newer audiences with fast editing, brighter visuals, and more contemporary cultural references, but these updates sit uncomfortably with the film’s otherwise old-school humour.

It’s also obvious that the makers never intended to recreate the magic of the original—they’re banking solely on goodwill and audience nostalgia, and that shows in both the writing and execution.

Sandler shines, Safdie surprises

Performance-wise, Adam Sandler knows this character inside out and plays Happy Gilmore with the same manic energy but also adds a slightly more grounded edge this time. He still yells, throws clubs, and picks fights, but there's a layer of tiredness and vulnerability that feels earned. Benny Safdie plays Frank Manatee with an exaggerated slickness that suits the over-the-top world of the film—his comic timing is sharp, and his strange charisma makes him a solid foil to Sandler’s Happy.

Julie Bowen appears briefly and brings warmth to her limited screen time, reminding viewers of the original’s softer beats. Ben Stiller’s return is pure fan service, but he plays his part with delight. While most of the supporting cast lean heavily into caricature, they’re clearly in on the joke, and that helps sell even the most absurd moments.

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Sentimental return, not a reinvention

In the end, ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ doesn’t aspire to be a better film than its predecessor—it simply wants to exist in the same world and offer fans a chance to revisit a character they’ve come to love. For those familiar with Happy’s antics and the offbeat tone of the first film, this sequel offers just enough to be worth the watch. It’s uneven and messy, yes, but it’s also self-aware and unapologetically silly.

However, if you’re walking into this without any affection for the original, you might find yourself wondering what all the fuss is about. The film doesn’t try to convert new fans—it plays squarely to the gallery, delivering loud laughs and a heavy dose of sentimentality. That may not be enough for everyone, but for a certain kind of viewer, it’s exactly what they signed up for.

Rating: 3/5