Happy Gilmore 2 Is the Sequel We Truly Didn’t Need

This is my detailed Happy Gilmore 2 review, covering Netflix’s long-awaited sequel to the 1996 cult comedy. The original Happy Gilmore remains a cult classic, a lightning-in-a-bottle comedy that balanced outrageous humor with a surprisingly heartfelt underdog story. It delivered a kind of raw, goofy energy that defined mid-’90s comedies and made Adam Sandler a household name. When news of a sequel broke almost three decades later, I’ll admit I was curious and even excited. I posted about the trailer, hoping for a nostalgic but clever return to form. Unfortunately, that anticipation faded fast. This sequel feels like a corporate nostalgia grab, lacking the heart and spontaneity that made the first film timeless.

Happy Gilmore 2 Official Trailer

Happy Gilmore 2 Review

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t watched the movie yet, do that first before reading my review unless you don’t mind spoilers.

Plot and Tone

Happy Gilmore 2 tries to build a story around an older, broken Happy. The film opens with a shock: Happy accidentally kills his wife, Virginia, with a stray golf ball. This grim twist sets the stage for a much darker tone than expected. From there, we watch him spiral into alcoholism, lose his fortune, and retreat to a modest life while raising his daughter, Vienna. When she gets accepted to a high-priced ballet academy in Paris, Happy is forced to return to golf, both to pay her tuition and to face his personal demons.

This setup could have been interesting if handled with a balance of humor and sincerity, but it leans too heavily on predictable emotional beats. Themes like grief, fatherhood, and redemption feel wedged in as though the writers were ticking boxes rather than building a cohesive story. The tonal clash between slapstick golf shenanigans and Hallmark-style family drama creates a jarring experience. Instead of elevating the narrative, these elements make the movie feel unfocused.

What Works

There are moments where the sequel sparks to life. Seeing characters like Kevin Nealon’s Gary Potter or even a now 70-plus Shooter McGavin sparks a nostalgic grin, even if their roles feel stretched thin. A few callbacks to the original land well because they are subtle rather than shoved in your face. One surprisingly funny moment is the absurdity of Happy’s tragic accident with Virginia, which somehow nails that dark humor Sandler fans know and love.

Some new characters manage to stand out. Bad Bunny, as Happy’s clumsy yet endearing caddy, adds an unexpected dose of charm and comedic timing. John Daly, playing himself as a garage-dwelling mentor, is so weird it works. Sunny Sandler as Vienna brings a bit of heart to the story, even though her role is surrounded by unnecessary chaos.

The soundtrack and production design deserve a nod. The choice of golf courses and settings, many filmed across New Jersey, adds visual depth and texture. The blend of real pro golfers like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler in cameo roles also adds a layer of authenticity, though their screen time is mostly gimmicky.

What Doesn’t Work

The cameo overload is the film’s biggest misstep. Instead of enhancing the movie, the endless parade of celebrities turns it into a who’s-who distraction. Eminem playing the heckler’s son is the ultimate “Why is this happening?” moment. It feels like Netflix assumed audiences would cheer at every random celebrity face, but it just comes off as forced. Post Malone, Travis Kelce, and a dozen other walk-ons clutter the film instead of enriching it.

The humor feels watered down and overly reliant on nostalgia. The original film was packed with unique gags and fresh energy. Here, the jokes often feel like recycled bits or uninspired riffs on the original’s greatest hits. The Maxi Golf subplot, meant to parody the LIV Golf controversy, has some cleverness but quickly devolves into chaos, overshadowing Happy’s redemption arc. The 118-minute runtime doesn’t help; it feels like 20 minutes of filler could easily have been cut.

The Tone Problem

Trying to merge heartfelt family drama with goofy slapstick is a tricky balancing act. This sequel doesn’t pull it off. The original was unapologetically silly, and its heartfelt moments felt earned because they were simple and genuine. Here, Happy’s grief and struggle with sobriety feel more like story padding than meaningful arcs. The dramatic tone is often undercut by cheap jokes or awkwardly timed cameos, creating a tonal whiplash.

Shooter McGavin’s arc, which shifts him from villain to reluctant ally, is one of the more interesting parts of the movie, but it feels like a missed opportunity. The writing never fully commits to exploring his redemption. Instead, it leans on caricatured humor that doesn’t hit as hard as it should.

Happy Gilmore 2 Review: My Verdict

Happy Gilmore 2 isn’t a total disaster, but it fails to justify its existence. It’s the kind of movie you might watch out of curiosity, chuckle a few times, and then forget within a week. Die-hard fans of Sandler’s older work might appreciate the nostalgia, but even they might feel let down by the overstuffed cameos and uneven tone.

The Final Take

The original Happy Gilmore was lightning in a bottle, a film that perfectly captured Sandler’s chaotic energy and comedic timing. This sequel feels like a pale imitation that spends too much time chasing trends and trying to modernize a formula that didn’t need fixing. My rating: 3 out of 5 stars, with a heavy caveat: Watch it only if you want to see what happens when Netflix tries to squeeze one more swing out of a 30-year-old classic. Otherwise, stick with the original and let it remain the legend it deserves to be.

Tony Simons

Tony has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix and over 14 years of writing experience between multiple publications in the tech, photography, lifestyle, and deal industries.