Review: Happy Gilmore 2 (2025): A Worthy Legacy Sequel?

Adam Sandler has been one of my favorite comedic actors for many years now. I don’t care what the critics say—I genuinely don’t think he’s a bad actor at all. In fact, his comedy films are my go-to when I need a good laugh or a quick pick-me-up.

Happy Gilmore was the film that introduced me to Sandler’s brand of comedy, so I was pretty excited when Netflix announced a sequel to the 1996 classic. But was Happy Gilmore 2 a solid follow-up, or was it just another unnecessary legacy sequel tacked onto Sandler’s comedy lineup? Well, here are my thoughts.

I’ll admit up front: I might be a little biased because of how much I loved the original, but I thought Happy Gilmore 2 was a genuinely solid sequel. The story wasn’t just a rehash of the first film—it actually tried something new. The comedy landed more often than not, and the callbacks to the original felt earned rather than forced. What impressed me most was how most of the characters, especially Happy and Shooter McGavin, had clear and satisfying arcs.

Sure, the film starts off a little slow, but once Happy gets back into the swing of things (pun intended), the plot kicks into gear and becomes increasingly entertaining as it goes.

Now, I don’t usually watch Adam Sandler comedies for their production value, but I have to say: this film felt more competently directed than the original. The cinematography had flair, offering up some interesting shot choices that made it stand out from the usual Netflix comedy visual style. The editing was smooth too, especially when they intercut footage from the original to help set up key story beats.

Another highlight was the soundtrack. Yes, it brought back a few iconic tracks from the original, but it also added some fresh needle drops that gave the sequel its own identity. These music choices elevated certain scenes and helped create a few new iconic moments in their own right.

It was also great seeing the return of such a colorful cast of characters—alongside a few fun new additions. Even the cameos from real-life golfers helped ground the film in a semi-believable world. Adam Sandler slips back into the role of Happy like he never left. He still nails the persona, and his performance had more heart than I expected. I was curious about how they’d pull off a sequel with this kind of cast, but somehow, it all came together.

Overall, Happy Gilmore 2 doesn’t feel like a legacy sequel made purely for nostalgia. It feels like an expansion of this fictional golfing world that genuinely tries to do something new. I was honestly impressed with the direction they took. Rather than just playing it safe and repeating the same beats, they made bold choices—and they worked.

Somehow, this has ended up as one of my favorite films of the year, and I can already see myself rewatching it just as much as the original.

For me, Happy Gilmore 2 gets a 5 out of 5 stars and a 10 out of 10. Sandler really should’ve pushed for a theatrical release—this deserved a crowd.

I’m also looking forward to Sandler’s next project, Jay Kelly—directed by Noah Baumbach with George Clooney in the lead. If Sandler can pull off two great films in one year, it’ll be a career high point for him.

What did you think?

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