In an era where Hollywood seems obsessed with reviving old franchises, the announcement of Happy Gilmore 2 was met with skepticism.
Legacy sequels are a risky business. Sometimes they recapture the magic, and other times they feel like cynical cash grabs.
Add in the fact that this long-awaited follow-up would be a Netflix exclusive, bypassing theaters entirely, and fans of the 1996 cult classic had every right to be nervous.
Yet, against the odds, Happy Gilmore 2 manages to deliver, thanks to a sharp script and Adam Sandler’s enduring charm.
Nearly 30 years after his infamous golf rivalry with Shooter McGavin, Happy Gilmore is back—older, crankier, and nursing a drinking problem.
No longer the fiery underdog who took the PGA Tour by storm, Happy is now a washed-up instructor at a run-down driving range, haunted by past glories.
But when a cocky young golfer trash-talks his legacy, Happy is pulled back into the game for one last shot at redemption.
Yes, the film is packed with cameos, some nostalgic and some random. Unlike many legacy sequels that rely solely on fan service, Happy Gilmore 2 has a heart.
Furthermore, the script strikes a balance between raunchy humor and genuine sadness, exploring what happens when a once-great athlete refuses to relinquish the glory days of his past.
The golf sequences are as absurdly entertaining as ever, and Sandler slips back into the role with ease, proving that Happy’s rage-filled swing still has comedic mileage.
Happy Gilmore 2 Review: A Wild, Nostalgic, and Absurd Return to the Green
Adam Sandler’s most unhinged golf hero is back in Happy Gilmore 2, a sequel that nobody expected but somehow makes perfect sense. Picking up 30 years after the original, the film dives headfirst into absurdity, blending slapstick comedy, emotional turmoil, and an all-star roster of cameos.
The film opens with a whirlwind exposition dump. Happy has won five more Tour Championships, married Virginia Venit, and had five kids, before tragically killing her with an errant drive.
Now a broke alcoholic, Happy loses his grandmother’s house and works a dead-end job, hiding liquor in increasingly ridiculous hip flasks.
But when his ballet-prodigy daughter gets accepted into a prestigious Paris school costing a $300K, Happy dusts off his clubs and rejoins the tour.
Christopher McDonald steals the show as Shooter McGavin, now institutionalized after losing his mind over never winning a championship. His unhinged performance in the third act is a highlight, proving McDonald still owns this role.
Meanwhile, Bad Bunny shines as Happy’s caddy, delivering unexpected comedic gold. Ben Stiller also returns as Hal L., swapping nursing scrubs for AA meetings but keeping the physical comedy intact.
Moreover, a flashy new golf league, Maxi Golf, is looking to destroy traditional golf—a not-so-subtle jab at real-world golf drama. Happy teams up with a ragtag crew to take them down in an overlong but entertaining showdown.
Happy Gilmore 2 leans hard into nostalgia, reusing clips from the original and stretching its finale to the limit. Yet, between Happy’s drunken antics, Shooter’s insanity, and surprise cameos, there’s enough here to satisfy fans.
How Much Cast of Happy Gilmore 2 Get Paid?
The long-awaited sequel to the 1996 comedy classic, Happy Gilmore 2, has finally arrived with a significantly bigger budget, reportedly between $30 and $40 million, compared to the original’s modest $12 million.
A significant portion of this budget was allocated to reuniting the beloved original cast, with some actors earning substantially larger paychecks this time around.
Unsurprisingly, Adam Sandler, who reprises his role as the hot-tempered golfer Happy Gilmore, tops the earnings list. According to reports, Sandler earned a staggering $20 million for the sequel. It is a significant increase from the $2 million he earned for the first film.
Given his star power and the franchise’s reliance on his character, this paycheck reflects his importance to the movie’s success.
Similarly, Julie Bowen (Virginia Venit, Happy’s wife) reportedly earned $3 million for her return to the show. Her character meets a tragic end early in the sequel, setting the plot in motion.
Ben Stiller (Hal L.) reprised his role as the eccentric nursing home orderly turned support group leader, earning $2 million.
Dennis Dugan, who directed the original film, also returned as Doug Thompson, the commissioner of the Tour Championship, taking home $1 million.
Kevin Nealon (Gary Potter) earned $500,000 for his role as the pro-golfer-turned-correspondent.
Nonetheless, Christopher McDonald (Shooter McGavin) reportedly made $400,000 to return as Happy’s arrogant rival.
On the other hand, while the main cast salaries have been revealed, the earnings for celebrity and athlete cameos remain undisclosed.
Happy Gilmore 2 promises big laughs, and its cast is being rewarded handsomely for their return.
Typical j e w rips off the behind the scenes people and smaller parts ( reason he won’t disclose them). What do you want to be that he forced his wife and kids to work for free. This is why rich people are ruining our world. They collect all this money, drive up stocks, which intern causes “inflation” of products. While us smaller people in the world slave our entire lives away so these people can continue to sit in their large protect properties while they collect their stuff and eat like kings while we are forced to consume garbage and then not be able to afford the care because we can’t afford the best of the best; food, water, shelter, health care, dental care and mental health care. Remember they are the few and we are the many, it’s time to start fighting for our rights to basic human rights. You know those small things we need for the minimal exsistence on this plant ( you know like all other animals have the right to ). We deserve the basic foods ( bread, meat, eggs, milk, butter, local vegetable and fruits ) If we want more than those basic things we can work for those and go out for dinner or get take out. We deserve shelter ( I mean if you are one person you have the choice between a bachelor home/apartment and a one bed room, if you are a couple who want to have children you can have a home with a bedroom for the parents and one for each sex of children of child ) and if we want larger homes or more property you can choose to work for more than you are allowed. We should all have access to clean fresh water no matter our status in life. I really just don’t understand the human species and why we are just so terrible to each other. We are horrible. Our species is the worst on the planet, honestly.