Sportsish at the Movies: Happy Gilmore Hits the Golf Course Once Again
Grab some popcorn, round up your crew, and settle in. Happy Gilmore is back, and it’s everything we didn’t know we needed.
Happy Gilmore 2 movie poster (Netflix)
We all remember the 1996 Adam Sandler classic: Happy Gilmore, the story of a short-tempered hockey hopeful who discovers he has a freakishly powerful golf swing — and uses it to save his grandma’s house. Nearly 30 years later, Sandler is bringing the laughs (and the clubs) back in Happy Gilmore 2, this time with higher stakes and even more heart.
In the sequel, Happy trades in his hockey dreams (again) to help his daughter chase hers — specifically, a dream of studying dance in Paris. With his grandfather’s old clubs, his Bruins gear, and that wild, looping swing, he heads back to the green — but this time it’s not just for family: the future of golf itself is on the line.
Carl Weathers (Chubbs) and Adam Sandler (Happy) in original Happy Gilmore (Getty)
The film serves up everything you'd want from a modern Sandler movie: pop culture punchlines, social media winks, and a ridiculous number of celebrity cameos. From Bad Bunny as Happy’s chaotic caddie to scene-stealers like Travis Kelce, Alix Earle, Guy Fieri, Post Malone, Margaret Qualley, and Marcello Hernandez, the star power is off the charts.
Travis Kelce and Adam Sandler on set (Instagram @killatrav)
But the biggest surprise? The real-life pro golfers who stepped onto the set and into the script. Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson DeChambeau compete alongside Happy to literally save the game. Bonus: the film pokes cheeky fun at Scottie’s recent legal headlines — and somehow, it works.
The pros on set (Scott Yamano/Netflix)
Of course, a Sandler film wouldn’t be complete without his family. His wife, Jackie Sandler, and daughter Sadie make small but sweet appearances, while Sunny Sandler reprises her role as his on-screen daughter, proving once again that talent runs in the family.
Jackie Sandler, Adam Sandler, Sadie Sandler, and Sunny Sandler at the 'Happy Gilmore 2' premiere in New York City (Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock)
What makes Happy Gilmore 2 really shine is its blend of nostalgia and new-school energy. With clever flashbacks, returning cast members, and a throwback soundtrack that hits all the right notes, it’s a love letter to the original and a hilarious update for a new generation.
And if you need one more reason to watch? Taylor Swift herself gave it her stamp of approval, calling it a “laugh-out-loud, heartwarming sequel that’s worth every minute.” If it’s Swiftie-endorsed, you know it’s real.
So whether you’re in it for the golf, the gags, or the guest stars, Happy Gilmore 2 is a hole-in-one. Grab the remote. It’s tee time.