Three decades on, Happy Gilmore is still swinging and yelling his way through life. Happy Gilmore 2, the long-rumoured and now fully-realised sequel to Adam Sandler’s 1996 cult classic, lands on Netflix as a goofy, chaotic, and unapologetically crowd-pleasing blast of nostalgia. It’s messy, overstuffed, and occasionally groan-inducing, but it’s also a loving return to one of Sandler’s most beloved characters. And for longtime fans? That’s more than enough to justify the trip back to Happy Place.
Set 30 years after Happy first hijacked the PGA Tour with his slapshot-style golf swing and unfiltered rage, the sequel finds the former hockey hopeful-turned-golf legend long retired and living a quiet life with his wife Virginia (Julie Bowen, returning briefly) and their five kids. The quiet doesn’t last. In a move straight out of the “sequel handbook,” Virginia is written out early (we won’t spoil the how, but yes, it’s a bummer), and Happy’s life quickly unravels. He loses his savings, his late grandmother’s house (again), and spirals into depression, drinking, and legal trouble. Before long, he finds himself in a rehab centre run by an old enemy.
That setup may sound grim, but don’t worry: Happy Gilmore 2 doesn’t dwell in sadness for long. In true Sandler fashion, the film quickly pivots to a redemption arc built on absurd plot twists, celebrity cameos, and increasingly ridiculous golf antics. The hook? Happy’s teenage daughter Vienna (played with surprising sweetness by Sandler’s real-life daughter Sunny Sandler) is accepted into the Paris Opera Ballet School, but tuition runs a cool $300,000. Naturally, the only way to raise the funds is by returning to the green for one last big tournament.
But this isn’t your dad’s PGA Tour. Enter Maxi Golf, a new, ultra-commercialised breakaway league invented by Benny Safdie’s Frank Manatee, an unhinged energy drink mogul who wants to shake up the sport. Think Top Golf meets Wipeout—seven holes, shot clocks, influencer galleries, fireworks at tee-off. It’s chaotic, crass, and ripe for satire. The twist? Happy has to qualify against today’s top golfers, and leading the rival Maxi Golf team is none other than Shooter McGavin himself, played once again by the scene-stealing Christopher McDonald. Recently released from a mental hospital, Shooter is just as arrogant and unhinged as ever, and McDonald looks like he’s having the time of his life.
Directed by Workaholics and Murder Mystery helmer Kyle Newacheck, and co-written by Sandler and longtime collaborator Tim Herlihy, Happy Gilmore 2 is exactly what you’d expect, and maybe a little more. It’s jam-packed with callbacks to the original film (yes, the iconic hockey stick putter is back), celebrity cameos (from Jack Nicklaus to Travis Kelce to Bad Bunny, who is genuinely hilarious as Happy’s new caddy Oscar).
Does every joke land? No. Some of the gags are more groan-worthy than gut-busting, and the runtime at nearly two hours feels bloated. There are stretches where it’s obvious the cast is having more fun than we are. But the comedic energy is relentless, and the film’s heart, especially in the scenes between Happy and Vienna, gives it just enough warmth to elevate the chaos. I genuinely had a smile on my face for the entire film, you cannot help but love Sandler’s comedic timing and his willingness to throw everything into a film for ultimate laughs and enjoyment, is his trademark that will become his legacy.
Sandler, now firmly in his mid-50s, slips back into Happy’s Bruins jersey like it never left his closet. He still balances explosive rage with puppy-dog vulnerability in a way few other actors can pull off. His portrayal here is more weathered, less manic than the 1996 original, but that works. He’s a dad now, after all. Watching him struggle with modern slang, TikTok culture, and the increasingly ridiculous world of pro sports adds some new comedic layers to an otherwise familiar formula.
Christopher McDonald remains the perfect comedic foil as Shooter, and their long-awaited rematch is every bit as ridiculous and satisfying as fans would hope. The film even manages to throw in a pitch-perfect nod to their legendary brawl from the first movie.
As for the supporting cast, it’s a who’s who of Sandler regulars and celebrity ring-ins. Margaret Qualley, Eric Andre, and John Daly all pop up for brief but memorable appearances. But it’s Bad Bunny (credited as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) who surprises the most, delivering some of the film’s funniest moments with his deadpan charm and accidental wisdom.
Visually, the film sticks to its cartoonish roots. Golf courses are transformed into over-the-top obstacle courses, and slow-motion replays of Happy’s signature swing are treated with the same reverence most movies give superhero landings. The product placement is shameless, Happy Gilmore 2 might actually outdo the original in terms of brand integration, but again, it’s all part of the joke. This movie knows what it is.
There’s a moment late in the film when Happy stares out across a packed gallery of fans, takes a breath, and says, “It’s good to be back.” That’s really what Happy Gilmore 2 is all about. It’s not trying to reinvent the comedy wheel or dazzle the Oscars. It’s here to remind you why you loved these characters in the first place, and give you a few new reasons to laugh along the way.
It might not hit a hole-in-one, but Happy Gilmore 2 makes a solid birdie. For fans old and new, it’s a goofy, heartfelt sports comedy with just the right mix of absurdity, nostalgia, and genuine charm.
Welcome back to the Happy Place. We missed it.
Happy Gilmore 2 is now streaming exclusively on Netflix.
