Happy Gilmore 2, now streaming on Netflix, is less a standalone film than a nostalgic sideshow built for longtime Adam Sandler fans. It leans heavily on callbacks and cameos, functioning more like a reunion special than a sequel with fresh legs. That said, for anyone who remembers the original’s crude charm, this return visit might land like a silly but welcome distraction from the summer slump.
Directed by longtime Sandler collaborator Kyle Newacheck, the film opens on a notably downbeat note: Happy is a widower and recovering alcoholic who hasn’t picked up a club in a decade. The plot hinges on a familiar underdog scenario: his daughter, Vienna (played by Sandler’s real-life daughter, Sunny Sandler), has a chance to attend an elite ballet school in Paris, but the tuition is steep. So, in classic Sandler fashion, the man-child-turned-middle-aged burnout must return to golf—now updated with absurd “Maxi Golf League” theatrics—to save the day.
Sandler, beard and all, leans into the role with a kind of ragged sincerity. He’s still capable of channeling the full blast of Happy’s barely contained fury, but there’s a sadness this time around that almost works—until the movie itself forgets to care. The tone shifts wildly, from bathos to slapstick, and while Sandler gamely walks the line, the film doesn’t always stick the landing.
The supporting cast is stacked: Julie Bowen returns via flashbacks, Christopher McDonald reprises his deranged Shooter McGavin, now institutionalized, and Ben Stiller chews scenery as a 12-step guru with the intensity of a man who knows he’s playing to fans. Benny Safdie adds some millennial menace as the new golf villain, while the parade of cameos—Kevin Nealon, Rob Schneider, Bad Bunny, and even real-life golfer John Daly—starts to feel like a running gag. Sandler’s wife Jackie and his other daughter Sadie also pop in, making this very much a family affair, both on- and off-screen.
There are chuckles here, no doubt—especially if you’re a longtime Sandler fan. The movie winks at its own legacy so often it could pull a muscle. There’s a decent training montage, the return of the alligator, even a spiritual cousin to Bob Barker’s infamous brawl (though sadly, no one matches that energy). The problem is that Happy Gilmore 2 rarely builds anything new. It’s a collage of old jokes, old characters, and a tone that’s equal parts rowdy and sentimental.
Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. For those looking for a breezy, low-stakes summer distraction, this is comfort food. For anyone hoping for a fresh spin or sharper comedy, this might feel more like a rerun than a revival. I found it watchable—sometimes even touching—but not essential.
Happy Gilmore 2 doesn’t aim to break new ground — and it doesn’t. But it knows its audience. For devoted Sandler fans, especially those who came of age during his ’90s heyday, this sequel is a comfortable, if slightly stale, trip down memory lane. It may not be a great film, but as an easy, low-stakes comedy to throw on during a lazy afternoon, it serves its purpose.