Happy Gilmore Movie Review

Happy Gilmore (1996)

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Written by: Tim Herlihy & Adam Sandler
Directed by: Dennis Dugan
Starring: Adam Sandler, Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen, Carl Weathers, Bob Barker
Rated: PG-13
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Plot
After his grandmother's house is repossessed by the IRS, a bad tempered hockey player takes his talents to golf to earn the big bucks and get his grandmothers house back.

Verdict
This excels in its simplicity, putting an unruly hockey player into the golf scene. What does golf need to be more exciting? A short tempered amateur with a great drive. The premise is silly and the humor is ridiculous. It completely works; all the jokes land. From Happy's mentor who had an unfortunate incident with an alligator to Happy's disagreements with Bob Barker, this always manages to be entertaining and a lot of fun. While it checks off the sports movie tropes, the juvenile humor sets this apart.
Watch It.

Review
What two sports are the most different? Golf and hockey are a good answer, and that's the premise for this movie. Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) is a failed hockey player that's recruited into golf when he needs money to save his grandma's house. While the plot is overly simplistic, it works as the foundation for the comedy. While it's dumb humor, I enjoyed it.

Adam Sandler, Carl Weathers play Happy Gilmore, Chubbs Peterson

It's simple plot. A wannabe hockey player stumbles into and excels at golf due to his exquisite slap shot. The humor may be silly but it is funny. Happy doesn't fit in with golfers, and he maintains he is not a golfer but a hockey player. Fitting the hockey stereotype, he has a propensity to lose his temper and fight people. Happy is the anti-golf, upsetting the unspoken rules of golf. That's the reason blue collar working America starts watching golf, and the same reason that golf isn't going to get rid of him.

Happy's mentor Chubbs (Carl Weathers) was forced to retire due to an incident while golfing, losing his hand to an alligator. While silly, the movie manages to get the most out of the joke. This movie is ridiculous, but it delivers. Happy has an infamous fight with Bob Barker. It's so random and unexpected, especially since it's Barker that it remains a memorable scene.

Bob Barker, Adam Sandler play Bob Barker, Happy Gilmore

The story gives us just the basics of what we need as it builds on the premise. Happy needs money and golf is the easy answer. We get an antagonist to hate in Shooter McGavin, the cocky, favored winner. Of course he hates Happy and everything Happy represents. Like all sports movies we need a rival and a deficit. Happy Gilmore delivers on that idea while providing laughs throughout.