There's a theory out there that no one really LIKES golf. It has to be the most frustrating sport in the world. That little hole has certainly sent people over the edge since the creation of the sport. Golf simply exists to let people vent their frustrations of day-to-day life. The same could probably be said for hockey, which is why "Happy Gilmore" is the perfect guy for the sport.
With his grandmother's house repossessed, Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) must come up with a huge sum of money within 90 days, or the IRS will take the house his grandfather built. Thanks to a rather lucky circumstance, Happy learns that he has the ability to drive a golf ball 400+ yards with every swing. Now under the tutelage of golf legend Chubbs Peterson (Carl Weathers), Gilmore joins the pro tour to earn some money and hopefully buy back the house he grew up in.
If you enjoy Sandler comedies (and you probably know by now if you do), then "Happy Gilmore" is probably high up on a favorite movie list of yours. This is easily his best quirky comedy, ripping the sport apart for all of its attempts at being "proper." It has plenty of jokes to keep the comedy coming throughout the brief hour and a half running time and a ton of entertainment value to go along with it.
Sure Sandler steals the movie, but the rest of the cast compliments him nicely. Christopher McDonald plays shooter McGavin, Happy's arch nemesis on the tour, to perfection. You learn early and quickly how much you hate him. Julie Bowen plays the love interest and the tour PR person, constantly trying to just keep Gilmore on the tour. Cameos include one of the most memorable in movie history by a game show host, Bob Barker, and Lee Trevino who gets in a few hilarious quips as the film moves along.
There are not many surprises here. The movie exists solely to get the next scene and produce more laughs. You can probably guess how the finale will pan out from the start of the hilarious opening credits. It's not a huge flaw and you generally don't expect much in the way of deep storylines from a movie like this anyway.
Either you like Sandler or you don't. This isn't a review or a film that's going to change your perception about the subject. Regardless of your thoughts, it's not very hard to see exactly WHY people can find themselves breaking down into tears as Sandler's antics in "Happy Gilmore." (**** out of *****)
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