"Happy Gilmore 2 Swings for the Heart—But Do the Cameos Kill the Vibe?"

Let’s get this out of the way

I laughed. Not a belly aching, tear streaming laugh like the original delivered back in the ‘90s, but a few genuine chuckles, and that’s more than I can say for most comedy sequels.

Adam Sandler’s return as Happy Gilmore? Solid. He’s older, wiser, and definitely not the same maniac from the first go around… but that’s okay.

He’s in his 50s now, and the performance reflects that evolution. It’s not quite the rage fueled, hockey stick swinging chaos we remember, but it’s an honest update that respects the character.

Now, about the plot.

It actually had heart. Real heart. There’s a powerful emotional core buried underneath all the slapstick and mayhem.

Unfortunately, that heart gets buried under a tsunami of cameos. And I’m not talking golf legends or clever callbacks. I mean “why are you here?” appearances that pull you out of the film. At times, it felt more like Happy Gilmore: The Variety Hour.

That said, the balance of story and comedy is one of the movie’s biggest strengths. Just like the original, it knows when to get goofy and when to hit you in the feels. And when it does hit you, it lands.

One scene in particular, Happy spiraling into depression during a match, missing his late wife was unexpectedly emotional. Later, his daughter helps pull him out of that dark place in a way that mirrors Virginia’s influence in the first film. It’s poetic.

Speaking of familiar faces, the new characters? Meh. Forgettable. The real weight of the movie is carried by mostly the returning legends… Happy, Virginia, Shooter McGavin, and (newcomer) Happy’s daughter. They’re the heart of the film. Period.

Shooter does return, and while it’s great to see him again, he felt a little... undercooked. He should’ve been the driving force behind Happy’s journey. Sadly, he’s sidelined more than he should be.

Newcomers to the franchise won’t be totally lost as there’s enough backstory sprinkled throughout via flashbacks, but Happy Gilmore 2 is definitely made for the fans. Whether that’s a strength or a weakness depends on how deep your nostalgia runs.

Bottom line?

It’s a serviceable sequel with a ton of heart, some great emotional beats, and a solid continuation for Happy Gilmore himself. But it’s also bogged down by a parade of distracting cameos and a few annoying side characters (cough Happy’s sons cough).

If you can overlook that, there’s a fun time waiting for you on the green.