I Expected Happy Gilmore 2 Would Be A Fun Sequel, But Was Surprised By Who My Favorite Character Turned Out To Be

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Beware: Spoilers for those who haven’t seen ‘Happy Gilmore 2‘ on Netflix yet.

As a devoted film enthusiast, I must confess that while “Happy Gilmore” might not make it onto the list of the greatest sports movies ever made, or even the top picks featuring Adam Sandler, there’s no denying my affection for this hilarious flick. In fact, despite the inevitable reservations, I held high hopes for the return of our beloved Happy in “Happy Gilmore 2”. And as it turns out, those hopes were not misplaced; our review validates my anticipation, confirming that the runtime was filled with laughter galore. What did surprise me, though, was the unexpected source of much of that humor.

In the wake of several key actors passing away following the initial release of the original comedy – with Carl Weathers’ demise leading to last-minute script changes – Happy Gilmore 2 honors cherished characters who couldn’t rejoin the cast, while welcoming back most of those who could, including Kevin Nealon as Gary Potter, Dennis Dugan as Doug Thompson, and Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin. However, it was an unexpectedly impactful appearance by a real-life golfer that truly captivated me in this sequel.

John Daly Is My Favorite Happy Gilmore 2 Character, Which Still Feels Weird To Say

Similar to many Adam Sandler productions, the film Happy Gilmore 2 unfolds in a realm that stretches the boundaries of reality while keeping emotions authentic. For instance, the initial scene shows Virginia’s death caused by a golf ball, reminiscent of Happy’s father’s demise due to a slapshot in the original film. Consequently, we find ourselves in a setting where a grieving Happy and his five children reside with a fictionalized character based on professional golfer John Daly. And it’s incredibly hilarious!

At first sight, Daly residing in Happy’s garage doesn’t appear unusual, and I struggle to put into words why. Maybe it’s because this unexpected detail is presented casually from the start, making it seem like a perfectly normal scenario: “Well, of course they live together!” Daly earned a reputation as a mischief-maker on the golf course, mirroring Happy Gilmore’s antics.

Read More Exclusive Happy Gilmore 2 Coverage

Title Suggestion: Julie Bowen Reflects on the Iconic Happy Gilmore Lingerie Scene (and its reappearance in the sequel) – and how the cast dealt with honoring original actors who passed before the sequel was made.

This new title maintains the focus on Julie Bowen’s reaction to her famous lingerie scene, while also highlighting the return of the scene in the sequel and the emotional aspect of memorializing the original actors who had passed away before filming.

As Happy regains his golf skills in preparation for the Maxi Golf tournament, Daly transforms into a questionable and wild character. It’s surprising how often the movie returns to him being inside Happy’s house, whether with the Gilmore children, Shooter McGavin, or Steve Buscemi’s peculiar neighbor character. I never anticipated that Daly would play such a significant role, but he proved to be an outstanding co-star for Sandler, far surpassing my expectations, even beyond the banquet scene featuring numerous real-life golfers.

The puzzling aspect of John Daly’s character is heightened by the fact that he has openly discussed his battle with alcoholism during his career and significant parts of his life. This backdrop makes the jokes about Happy’s drinking seem oddly layered. To add to this, John Daly is often seen hiding flasks throughout the house, which he tries to locate while simultaneously squirting hand sanitizer into his mouth. It’s hard to pinpoint why this particular action is humorous within a scene, but it does work effectively.

The entire setup functions exceptionally well, to the extent that it wouldn’t astonish me if Adam Sandler manages to bring back John Daly for his next Happy Madison production. Perhaps they could portray him as brothers with Blake Clark’s character, the homeless beachcomber.

Extremely Honorable Mention Goes To Bad Bunny’s Oscar

It’s not unexpected that Bad Bunny’s acting debut as Oscar, Happy’s new golf caddy, is enjoyable to watch given his diverse talents in music and on screen. The biggest surprise, however, might be that Oscar manages to elicit so many laughs despite having limited dialogue.

It shows just how talented Bad Bunny is that he can effectively use “Breadsticks?” as a joke in various scenes, much like Oscar’s introduction of his cousin Esteban (Marcelo Hernandez from SNL) as his own caddy or Esteban’s excessive generosity once it becomes clear he won’t be someone’s caddy can make you laugh.

It’s uncertain whether we’ll have more escapades with Happy Gilmore and the gang, but I’m thankful that everyone involved put in the effort to ensure this much-anticipated sequel lived up to expectations. As for future possibilities, perhaps the next installment could feature Ben Stiller’s character, Hal L., accidentally swallowing a grenade and exploding!

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2025-07-28 03:08