Happy Gilmore 2 Review: A Silly, Nostalgic Sequel That Plays It Safe

HAPPY GILMORE 2 (2025)
Starring Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore. Cr. Scott Yamano/Netflix

The original Happy Gilmore (1996) endures because it’s gloriously absurd—a hockey player becoming a golf prodigy in a week is the kind of ridiculous premise that never gets old. Its charm lies in the commitment of Sandler and the cast, who play the insanity straight, giving it an almost Chaplin-esque sincerity.

Now, 29 years later, Happy Gilmore 2 arrives on Netflix, walking a tightrope between nostalgia and novelty. A sequel like this has a slim chance of success: too similar, and it’s stale; too different, and it betrays what fans love. So, does it work?

Warning: Minor spoilers ahead.

The Plot: Tragedy, Drinking, and Maxi Golf

The film opens with Happy (Sandler) and his wife, Virginia (Julie Bowen), now parents to five kids—including their daughter Vienna, played by Sandler’s own talented daughter, Sunny. But tragedy strikes early: Virginia dies in a bizarre golf accident, sending Happy into a spiral of grief, alcoholism, and financial ruin.

Fans have argued that killing off Virginia was unnecessary—and they’re right. The movie could’ve found lighter adversity to kickstart the plot. After all, Happy Gilmore is about laughs, not melodrama. Still, Happy’s drunken antics provide some dark humor (though at times, it’s more sad than funny).

The real conflict comes from Benny Safdie’s villain, Frank Manatee, who launches Maxi Golf—a rogue tour where players undergo surgery to hit farther (a clear riff on the PGA-LIV drama). Manatee, played with delicious villainy by Safdie, cheats relentlessly, making him a worthy successor to Shooter McGavin.

The Return of Shooter McGavin (And Some Cameos)

Speaking of Shooter (Christopher McDonald), he’s back—and still mentally unraveling from his defeat in the first film. Thankfully, the script doesn’t waste him; instead, he gets a satisfying arc that longtime fans will appreciate.

As for cameos, Bad Bunny (credited as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) shines as Happy’s understated caddy, while Travis Kelce’s role feels superfluous. Real-life golfers like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy also pop in, with Scheffler getting a fun meta-moment golf fans will recognize.

Verdict: Fun, Fluffy, But Not a Hole-in-One

Happy Gilmore 2 delivers exactly what it promises: dumb, nostalgic fun. It won’t win awards, and it doesn’t top the original, but fans of Sandler’s brand of humor will leave satisfied. Just don’t overthink it—this sequel works best when you embrace the absurdity.

Final Score: 6.5/10 – A Par-for-the-Course Sequel