Happy Gilmore
Release year: 1996
My Rating: ★★★★ out of 5
Tagline: He doesn’t play golf… he destroys it.
Synopsis: Failed hockey player-turned-golf whiz Happy Gilmore — whose unconventional approach and antics on the green courts the ire of rival Shooter McGavin — is determined to win a PGA tournament so he can save his granny’s house with the prize money. Meanwhile, an attractive tour publicist tries to soften Happy’s image.
I'm guilty of hating on Adam Sandler for a lot of my life. I watched Jack and Jill for crying out loud! But there was always that piece of me that knew that I didn't outright hate him. He made Happy Gilmore after all! And despite all those haters out there and those that compare this to all his other terrible work, I really love this movie.
I wish we get this version of Adam Sandler in more movies. A very flawed, but likable main character. Sure he's got his anger issues, but at the heart of everything he just wants to help the people he cares about. This is why I like this movie so much more than Billy Madison. I actually want to see Happy succeed.
But it's not just that. This movie is absolutely hilarious! There are so many scenes I love and think about all the time. You've got him telling his ball to "go home". There's the "eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast" line. There's the entirety of the mini-golf clown scene. And who can forget when he get's in a fist fight with Bob Barker!
Shooter McGavin
But the real standout of the whole movie is Shooter McGavin. Shooter might be one of my favorite villains of all time largely because of the performance from Christopher McDonald. He just owns every scene he's in because of how much energy he puts into the character. He is so easy to root against because he is just so awful in an incredible way. The way he melts down throughout the course of the movie is just chef's kiss.
I love this movie. And I actually think it is a straight up good movie. You've got rootable characters, good comedy, a fun premise, and it has one of the most well done love interests of all the Sandler movies. I am a big Julie Bowen fan, she is so funny in Modern Family, and I just think she does a great job here. Her and Sandler have a lot of chemistry, and I like that her character doesn't straight up dislike Happy from the start. She's always intrigued by him from the start despite everyone around her being initially offput by his antics, and I think it actually serves the purpose of the plot. He has someone behind him to cheer him on that he also wants to prove himself to.
I also love Chubbs! Chubbs is so funny, and I feel like you don't get many characters like him in Sandler movies. I feel like his character is so much more serious than the rest of the movie, but that fact add these bits of comedy to his scenes that really pop. RIP buddy, you are dearly missed!
Part of me wanting to watch every Adam Sandler movie was just wanting to watch Happy Gilmore again. And I thought that maybe there was a chance that there's another movie I like as much as it. It had been a few years since the last time I had watched it so I was a little bit worried I wasn't going to think it was as good as I was as I was a kid. But I think I might even like it better. This is my favorite Adam Sandler movie and really a reason why I do like Adam Sandler. I know what he's capable of, and when he really cares about a performance, he will give his all. I salute you Happy Gilmore! Here's to many more watches in the future!
