Happy Gilmore 2 is a comedy sequel directed by Kyle Newacheck, starring Adam Sandler reprising his role as the hot-tempered golfer Happy Gilmore. Released on Netflix on July 25, 2025, the film runs for 1 hour and 58 minutes (114 minutes in some listings) and is rated PG-13 for strong language, crude/sexual material, partial nudity, and some thematic elements. The plot picks up nearly 30 years after the original 1996 film: Happy, now a washed-up alcoholic widower and father of five, returns to golf to raise money for his daughter Vienna’s (Sunny Sandler) ballet school tuition.
He faces off against a rival league called Maxi Golf, led by energy drink mogul Frank Manatee (Benny Safdie), while reuniting with old foes like Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald) and dealing with personal redemption. The cast includes returning actors like Julie Bowen (Virginia Venit) and Ben Stiller (Hal L.), plus cameos from celebrities such as Bad Bunny (as caddy Oscar), Eminem, Travis Kelce, Margaret Qualley, Eric Andre, and numerous golfers like John Daly and Jack Nicklaus.
The film is a nostalgia-heavy legacy sequel co-written by Sandler and Tim Herlihy, emphasizing callbacks, slapstick humor, and product placement. It honors deceased original cast members (e.g., Carl Weathers as Chubbs) through tributes and features Sandler’s real-life family in roles.
Critic Reviews Summary
Critics are divided, praising the film’s nostalgic charm, Sandler’s committed performance, and fun cameos, but criticizing its reliance on recycled jokes, uneven pacing, and lack of originality. Many note it’s a “fan-service” sequel that doesn’t match the original’s spark but succeeds as harmless entertainment.
Positive Leans: Richard Roeper (RogerEbert.com) gives it a solid review, calling it a “shamelessly unapologetic exercise in Millennial nostalgia” with “great, stupid, harmless fun” driven by Sandler’s likable underdog energy and cameos. He highlights the cartoonish golf scenes and tributes to the original, concluding it “makes par through the strength of its sheer stupid energy.”
Owen Gleiberman (Variety) describes it as a “happy orgy of raucously well-executed Adam Sandler fan service” that revives his ’90s punk-rock rage, appreciating the script’s bonkers logic and emotional beats about aging. Corey Chichizola (CinemaBlend) calls it a “comedic triumph” and “love letter to the original,” deserving a “golden jacket” for its heart, constant laughs, and handling of legacy characters. Jeff Ewing (Collider) sees it as a “largely refreshing throwback” with good-natured charm, evolving Happy without losing his essence.
Mixed/Negative Leans: Newsweek rounds up social media reactions, noting overwhelmingly positive fan buzz despite some calling it “pathetic nostalgia” with “empty cameos.” Alex Gherzo (Geeks + Gamers) rates it 4.6/10, criticizing it as a “sad retread” that undoes the original’s victories and leans on callbacks, making it “depressing and mostly boring.” Liam Gaughan (High on Films) finds it “too inoffensive to be angry with” but derivative, lacking sharp humor and relying on cameos over fresh energy.
Rotten Tomatoes critics like Maxwell Rabb (Chicago Reader) note “light chuckles” but a flatlining story due to “half-assed gags,” while Michael Ordoña (TheWrap) says it’s “not anything special” without the original’s spark.
Other outlets like The Hollywood Reporter call it “terrible — and fans will love it” for its fan-service avalanche, and Parade reports initial reviews as disappointing for a rare Sandler sequel. ScreenRant dubs it a “bad case of sequelitis,” buckling under recycled elements.
Audience and User Reviews
Many call it a “classic Sandler film” with “hilarious characters” and “nostalgic scenes,” appreciating cameos and family elements. One user says, “If you loved Happy Gilmore you will love the second one.”
Negative ones lament it as a “disappointment” with “recycled jokes” and no heart, comparing it to “Caddyshack II.”
On Rotten Tomatoes audience side: Positive reviews praise it as “funny and light,” while negatives call it “a huge letdown” or “why cinema is dying.”
Overall, Happy Gilmore 2 appeals most to die-hard fans of the original for its callbacks and dumb fun, but may disappoint those seeking innovation. If you’re a Sandler enthusiast, it’s worth a watch; otherwise, revisit the 1996 classic.
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