'Happy Gilmore 2' Doesn't Reach the Green

Here's another legacy sequel that doesn't need to exist. Happy Gilmore 2 relies heavily on past jokes to compensate for a lack of a solid script, offering occasional laughs. One recurring gag involves John Daly, a former golfer known for making a boring sport interesting through his bad-boy behavior, kind of like Happy Gilmore. Daly lives in Happy's garage, using hand sanitizer as an alcohol supplement. The other bit involves an alligator eating one of the golfers as sportscaster Verne Lundquist casually exclaims, "and that's our first fatality." Aside from those two jokes and a cameo from Steve Buscemi, Happy Gilmore 2 is a tired sequel that serves as a poignant reminder that we all grow old and die before we even realize it.

The story begins like the first movie. Tuesday's Gone by Lynyrd Skynyrd plays, followed by a montage that catches us up on Happy Gilmore's (Adam Sandler) Life. After becoming famous for winning the tournament in the first film, Happy married Virginia (Julie Bowen) and had children with her. After years of being a beloved figure in the spotlight, Happy's life takes a dark turn, leaving him with nothing except his family. It's structurally similar to Rocky V. Luckily, it isn't as bad, but I almost wish it were so, then it would be as memorable.

Happy Gilmore 2 is predictably servicable, where I can't deem it a terrible legacy sequel. There are some early attempts in the script to shift gears in unexpected directions. Unfortunately, that shift isn't handled with much thought or care. It has sparked internet outrage for good reason. However, it's a gutsy direction that initially drew me in. It's a great way to show understand why Happy reaches his underdog arc.

Now broke, Happy's family consists of four boys and one girl. I think. It's hard to tell, since the film makes all the boys indistinguishable punchlines. They're not very smart, filled with testosterone, and love to use every object they can at work like a penis, just like their pop. The one girl in the family, Vienna (Sunny Sadler), wants to attend a prestigious art school in Paris that would cost $75,000 per year. Having no other means to make the money, Happy releases the guilt he's been carrying for several years and reenlists in the Tour Championship.

Happy Gilmore 2 is a double whammy of elements not working. When relying on original humor, Happy Gilmore 2 features cringeworthy sequences. Like the one where he trains with a group of amateurs, allowing him to regain his groove. The scene ends with a fake-looking, over-the-top golf cart explosion where Happy nearly takes the lives of the kids. One of which oddly includes an appearance by Margaret Qually. For an actress of her stature, what's she doing playing a side cameo in a Happy Madison Production? During a news segment documenting what happened, we see Happy walking away from the wreckage, drinking booze, without a care in the world that he nearly killed a bunch of people.

I understand that Happy Gilmore is a blue-collar guy with an attitude problem. But he had a heart of gold. He may have beaten the crap out of a bunch of folks, but he's not crippling those he's having a good time with. When the film relies on its old jokes, they're more eye-rolling than funny. In case you forgot which character showed up in the first film, the sequel reminds you by flashing back to the part from the original where they met, as if the fans of a 29-year-old film would forget.

Another notable oddity during the flashbacks is how much better the original looked compared to this film. The grass is naturally green, and the bright colors in contrast complement it well. In this film, everything looks terrible. The colors are far too measured out. The grass is so green that it's overexposed. It appears to be bleeding color instead of being there naturally. Everything has an odd blue tint to it, making Happy Gilmore 2 look more like an episode of House of Cards.

That would make sense, as cinematographer Zak Mulligan was in fact a cinematographer on that Netflix series. Since Netflix acquired Happy Madison Productions, it's easy to see how the studio turned to its hiring department for a DP (Director of Photography) instead of finding the right person for the job. Shouldn't the production have known to hire someone who's actually shot comedy before?

From Happy Gilmore 2's unusual cinematography to its uneven script, it proves that there's an artistry to dumb comedies that has been lost. For all the criticism critics liked to level at longtime Adam Sandler collaborator Dennis Dugan, the two did manage to produce a couple of really funny films. They focused on simplicity, with the protagonist typically being a tough yet sweet character. Dugan quickly made nothing but crap between him and Sandler, early in their collaborative career, but you can't take Happy Gilmore and Big Daddy away from them.

Comedy is probably the toughest category to nail. You have to keep the audience laughing for at least 90 minutes straight. If you falter for at least 15-20, you're dead. If a percentage of your punch lines are cringy, you're dead. There's a visceral disdain audiences have for bad comedies that's treacherous territory for directors to approach. To dive into the genre, I salute them.

Happy Gilmore 2 reminds us that comedies of the '90s can't be replicated. One needs to embrace the future instead of clinging to the past. The old punchlines weren't old at the time of Happy Gilmore's making. Repeating them as a callback to twenty-nine years ago is a half-assed attempt at retaining a magic that cannot be recaptured. Seeing our favorite stars dead or aged out makes for a more forgettable and depressing reminder that time has changed, and if we live in the past, we're doomed to more mediocre sequels like this one.