Happy Gilmore 2
Happy Gilmore 2
Greetings Golfers,
Of course, I have to review Happy Gilmore 2.
I thought it was funny. Really funny. My wife thought it was sort of funny. I get it. It’s Adam Sandler. His movies are goofy, silly, juvenile, etc … but mixed with a kind-heartedness that makes it work.
I think that Adam Sandler is a mix of being genuinely kind - even sweet … and also being angry and capable of violence. At least that seems to be the character he always plays … especially in the movies that he writes.
You definitely wouldn’t choose him to play the role of a polished, high-level executive. His charm is that he’s sort of anti-social … yet friendly to people. He’s the ultimate genuine guy … not at all a phony, pretentious person.
So the original Happy Gilmore movie was basically about a goofball entering the staid, uptight world of golf … shades of the movie Caddyshack.
Yet, in Happy Gilmore 2 … he joins the side of the PGA Tour in a match against the new golf league that wants to undue all of golf’s traditions.
So … Happy is the rebel … but on the side of the traditionalists. It’s kind of genius … this way he can beat the bad guys and help the good guys recover their innate goodness.
Which to me is always the theme of his movies. He’s not the revolutionary out to destroy society … he’s the true adolescent in a grown-up’s body who’s frustrated with the phoniness of the adult world … but doesn’t want it overthrown … just not so uptight.
You can see why Happy Gilmore was so much fun when it came out 30 years ago. Golf has loosened-up a lot since then.
But the movie isn’t just about having fun … it’s another “Rocky” story. Happy turns unhappy. His life falls apart and then rises just like the Phoenix. In fact, that’s another common theme in Sandler’s movies - rising from the ashes. And … that’s when the adolescent turns into a grown-up.
A real life golf “Rocky” story is Ben Hogan. You need to see the movie about his rise from the ashes - Follow the Sun.
Happy Gilmore and Ben Hogan are two different cats. But they both share that drive to overcome adversity that is so inspiring.
And … isn’t that attitude at the heart of golf? Isn’t that why we really love it? The frustration can be overwhelming … but the overcoming is so satisfying!
Well … though Happy Gilmore 2 is silly … it’s lovable, and funny, and satisfying … just like golf.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com