Nostalgia, Cameos, Laughs and Sandler Magic: Happy Gilmore 2 Review

Spoiler Warning: This article contains detailed plot points, character appearances, and surprises from Happy Gilmore 2. If you haven’t watched the film yet and want to go in fresh, we recommend bookmarking this review and returning after your viewing.

Quick Summary (Key Points)

• A nostalgic yet emotionally tinged sequel that balances classic Happy Gilmore humour with themes of grief and legacy
• Features over-the-top cameos—from PGA and LIV superstars to musicians, sports icons and Sandler’s own family
• The in-film “Maxi Golf Tour” mirrors the real PGA vs LIV conflict, with stars like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy banding together
• A tribute fight scene in a cemetery honours the original cast members who have passed away
• Emotional depth emerges from Happy’s loss of wife Virginia and his efforts to raise funds for daughter Vienna’s ballet tuition

Why Happy Gilmore 2 Finally Arrived

Nearly three decades after the original Happy Gilmore premiered in 1996, audiences have been waiting impatiently for its return. For 29 long years, Christopher McDonald – the iconic Shooter McGavin – teased a sequel; Adam Sandler repeatedly insisted he “doesn’t do sequels” until finally relenting, part of his massive Netflix deal signed in the early 2020s. The result is Happy Gilmore 2, released exclusively on Netflix on 25 July 2025 – a nostalgic, star-studded labour of love from Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions. This delay built anticipation—and Happy Gilmore 2 plays to that vintage fanbase, weaving legacy sequel dynamics into its very DNA.

Plot Overview & Emotional Stakes

The film opens on a somber note: Happy, now 58, has fallen from grace after a tragic accident that kills his wife, Virginia. This shocking incident, where a stray drive takes her life, is darker than typical Sandler fare, but it sets up a singular motivation: funding the €300,000 ballet tuition for his daughter, Vienna. Happy now works mundane jobs and drinks heavily to cope, hiding booze in cucumbers, binoculars and even his golf ball. It’s both absurd and heartfelt, blending classic slapstick with raw melancholy. Vienna, played by Sunny Sandler, dreams of ballet school in Paris, anchoring the family-focused emotional core. This dredges themes of redemption, fatherhood and legacy—unexpected for a golf comedy, but compelling all the same.

Mega-cameo Overload: Who’s Who

Prepare for cameo mayhem. Happy Gilmore 2 is chock-full of famous faces—both pro athletes, celebrities and Sandler’s familiar crew. PGA and LIV stars like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Jack Nicklaus, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Corey Pavin, Fred Couples, Lee Trevino, Will Zalatoris and more appear as themselves. Then there’s the music and sports celebrities: Bad Bunny as Oscar Mejías (waiter-turned-caddie), Eminem as Donald Jr, Post Malone as DJ Omar Gosh, Travis Kelce as the waiter involved in that Jack Nicklaus joke, Ken Jennings, Steve Buscemi, Benny Safdie, John Daly, Eric André, Margaret Qualley, and more. Sandler’s own family shows up: wife Jackie (as Vienna’s dance teacher), daughters Sunny and Sadie, and Ben Stiller’s children too. Rob Schneider appears in a fantasy montage yelling “You can do it!” It’s a star parade that’s both exhilarating and—at times—overwhelming.

The Golf Conflict: “Maxi Golf” vs Regular Tour

The fictional “Maxi Golf Tour” in Happy Gilmore 2 satirises the real-world tension between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. Maxi Golf features cartoonish holes, over-powered big hitters and a mini-golf aesthetic—clearly echoing the flashy LIV format. Yet in the film, both PGA and LIV stars unite to defend the traditional tour. Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau rally around Happy to save “regular golf” from being overtaken. This is clever meta-commentary, turning Sandler’s comedy into a tongue-in-cheek reflection on the modern power dynamics of professional golf.

Nostalgic Touches & Homages to the Original

There are repeated jokes and callbacks—driven by golf balls through windows, angry outbursts and Happy’s impulsive swing. But these are given fresh twists: for instance, the cucumber hidden flask gag reimagined, or Shooter’s asylum-resident status after 29 years. The sequel clearly salutes the originals while trying not just to copy. One standout scene: the cemetery fight between Happy and Shooter with gravestones marking characters from the first film. It serves as a heartfelt tribute to departed actors and characters—an eerie but moving homage to legacy. Your reaction—that it handled with thoughtful respect—is echoed by critics noting the film’s unexpected somber tone.

Comedy vs Emotional Depth: A Tonal Balance

Many critics observe a tonal imbalance. Vulture calls it “surprisingly somber”, while Washington Post criticises the film’s preoccupation with death and legacy. Yet Esquire applauds how Sandler blends slapstick chaos with emotional resonance. This mix works for fans expecting nostalgia and laughs, but feels heavier than the breezy irreverence of the original. Repetitive gags and cameo overload risk diluting impact, though for devoted fans that’s a trade-off they may gladly accept.

Standout Cameo Moments

John Daly, living in Happy’s basement, delivers hilarious lines and embodies the “wild card” persona to perfection. Scottie Scheffler, arrested again mid-film, reprised with comedic flair nodding back to real events. Eminem, as Donald Jr, nailed his cameo with a mixture of deadpan menace and Sandler absurdism. Bad Bunny, as Oscar Mejías, arguably steals scenes with his waiter-caddie swagger. Ben Stiller’s Hal L., leading Happy’s support group, resurfaces as a key nostalgia anchor from the original franchise.

Family and Nepotism in the Cast

Yes, there’s nepotism—but in this case it adds charm. Sunny Sandler as Vienna, Sadie, Ben Stiller’s kids and Sandler’s mother and mother-in-law appear. Some critics lament this overload, others see it as a family affair: a celebration of the friendships and connections built over decades within the Happy Madison circle. It helps build an intimate, communal vibe—very much part of the Sandler universe of 2025.

Thematic Underpinnings: Legacy & Growing Up

At its heart, Happy Gilmore 2 grapples with aging, loss and redemption. Happy’s arc from grief-stricken widower to father fighting for his daughter’s dream echoes Sandler’s own evolution: once a cheeky underdog, now a legacy star. The film uses flashbacks and the Chubbs Peterson subplot—introducing Lavell Crawford as Chubbs’s son—to mourn Carl Weathers and other departed cast. A subtle TV clip tribute to Cameron Boyce appears in the background early on. These layers give the comedy greater depth—making it about more than just laughs, but memory, tribute and the passage of time.

Reception & Critic Consensus

Critical reaction is decidedly mixed. Praise centres around nostalgia, emotional depth and the fun ensemble chaos. Esquire lauds it as “a joyous escapist ride.” Houston Chronicle calls it a nostalgia-heavy gathering of pals. On the other side, criticism focuses on over-reliance on callbacks, cameo fatigue and a surprisingly heavy tone. Washington Post and Paste Magazine note repetitive comedy and tonal heaviness. Fans seem divided—but many longtime viewers welcome the return to Happy’s world regardless.

Personal Take: A Family Viewing Experience

For me, the film hit home on a personal level. Growing up with Happy Gilmore, I shared that original absurd joy—and now watching Happy Gilmore 2 with my boys, laughing out loud together, brought waves of nostalgia. The nods to classic jokes, the absurd cameo after cameo, and the bittersweet emotional beats all felt like a family reunion. It wasn’t quite as sharp or tight as the 1996 original—but for what it set out to be, it was heartfelt, silly, and deeply reminiscent of those family movie nights we love.

Happy Gilmore 2 vs Classic Comedy Sequels

Many legacy sequels stumble by trying too hard or not enough. Happy Gilmore 2 lands in between: it doesn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel—nor apologise for repeating jokes. Compared to weaker sequels like Space Jam: A New Legacy, Sandler delivers his riff with sincerity. Yet compared to Anchorman 2, its structure feels loose. It’s exactly what fans would expect from Sandler’s Netflix era: comfortable, well-staffed with stars, and nostalgic.

Final Verdict: Worth the Return to the Green?

If you loved the original Happy Gilmore, this sequel is a nostalgia-soaked reunion: cameos galore, heartfelt homage, and silly jokes with new twists. The emotional tone is darker, the comedic beats sometimes overstretched—but for fans, it hits the sweet spot between homage and new material. Viewers expecting razor-sharp plotting may feel fatigued. But those craving laughter, nostalgia and cameo overload—from PGA stars to Eminem to Bad Bunny—are in for a treat. It may not surpass the first film—but it celebrates it wonderfully.

Conclusion & How to Watch

Happy Gilmore 2 finally drops on Netflix from 25 July 2025. If you’re after a comedy that blends nostalgia, emotional beats and a dizzying parade of cameos, this is your ticket back to the green. Share your favourite scene or cameo below—and keep the laughs alive.

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