Happy Gilmore 2 is Rated PG-13 by Motion Picture Rating (MPA) for strong language, crude/sexual material, partial nudity and some thematic material.
Happy Gilmore 2 Movie Review
After Adam Sandler’s modest box office win with Billy Madison back in 1995, it was clear he had something special a chaotic comedic energy with potential. Hollywood took notice fast, and just a year later, he landed Happy Gilmore, a sports comedy that not only outperformed his previous effort but also became one of his most beloved films. With its goofy charm and quotable one-liners, Happy Gilmore helped define Sandler’s early movie stardom. Honestly, if there was ever a right time to do a sequel, it would’ve been sometime around 1998, while Sandler was still riding that wave of unfiltered youthful silliness.
But instead of striking while the iron was hot, we get Happy Gilmore 2 nearly three decades later 29 years, to be exact. And here’s the strange part: neither the character nor the writing has evolved much. Sandler and co-writer Tim Herlihy returns, seemingly with no ambition to develop anything new. Directed by Kyle Newacheck (who previously helmed Murder Mystery), this sequel feels less like a follow-up and more like a cinematic recycling plant one that’s purely focused on regurgitating the original’s gags without offering a fresh spin. In short, it’s less a movie and more a nostalgia collage.
This time around, Happy (Sandler) has long since conquered the world of pro golf. He’s settled down with Virginia (Julie Bowen), and together they’ve raised four aggressive sons and a talented ballerina daughter, Vienna (played by Sandler’s real-life daughter, Sunny). But the good life doesn’t last after some vague off-screen crisis, Happy spirals into a decade of alcoholism and depression. When Vienna gets accepted into a prestigious ballet academy in Paris, Happy needs fast cash to pay for it. Enter Jon Daly playing a weird, exaggerated version of himself who convinces Happy to dust off the clubs and return to the green.
But standing in his way is Frank (Benny Safdie), a flashy, high-energy beverage mogul who’s created the “Maxi Golf League,” a souped-up version of the sport that threatens to upend the traditional pro tour. To ensure chaos, Frank even springs Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald) from a psych ward to give Happy a hard time. Yes, that’s really the plot.
In terms of story mechanics, the sequel tries to ground Happy’s comeback in family stakes he’s doing it all for his daughter’s dreams. And there’s something to that. But the film doesn’t really let him grow. Instead, it drags him back into a pit of absurdity and alcohol-fueled hijinks, playing his addiction mostly for laughs. Whether or not the steady drip of alcoholism jokes lands will depend on your tolerance for that kind of humor. Eventually, Happy checks into a recovery group run, in a truly bizarre twist, by Hal (Ben Stiller), his sadistic former nursing home tormentor from the original movie. Because of course he does.
The sequel leans hard on callbacks so much so that it often feels like a feature-length YouTube “Remember This?” video. Every returning character, line, or gag from the 1996 film is not only referenced but shown via actual clips. It’s as if the filmmakers are terrified that the audience won’t remember who these people are without visual proof. We even get second-generation characters: sons of Mr. Larson, Donald Floyd, and Chubbs all pop in to make Happy’s journey more convoluted. One scene even pits Happy and Shooter in a graveyard filled with literal tombstones of characters and actors from the first movie. It’s the kind of moment that crosses the line from cute homage to eerie, poorly aged fanservice.
There are glimpses very brief ones of original humor. The sequel updates Happy’s dreamlike “happy place” with clever tweaks (say goodbye to the beer-wielding lingerie models; hello, cholesterol test results). But those moments are few and far between. Instead, the movie makes space for endless celebrity cameos Travis Kelce, Bad Bunny, and others appear for punchlines that mostly don’t land. It’s a reminder that stunt casting is not a substitute for actual comedy. This isn’t growth; it’s regression dressed up in brand sponsorships and golf polos.
The core conflict between traditional golf and Frank’s obnoxiously radical Maxi League has some promise. Frank’s plan involves sneaky tactics like hiring a player with a surgically enhanced hip to keep up with Happy’s signature swing. It’s all leading to an over-the-top tournament finale that finally delivers the kind of weird, high-energy climax fans of the original might enjoy. But outside of that final stretch, the film feels sluggish and uninspired. There’s a lot of noise, but not much spark.
Ultimately, Happy Gilmore 2 stumbles by refusing to chart a new course. It’s content to coast on memories of a better, funnier movie dragging its beloved characters out for another round of antics without giving them anywhere new to go. For fans hoping to relive the chaotic joy of the original, it may feel like a bittersweet reunion: familiar faces, recycled jokes, and the lingering question of whether we really needed to go back in the first place.
Happy Gilmore 2 Parent Guide
Language: It contains sprinkle of s-words, some crude slang, and a few “oh come on” moments where you wonder if it was really necessary. F-bombs are avoided (barely), but the language definitely leans rougher than the original which already wasn’t shy about letting loose. Add in some drunken rants and frustrated shouting, and the script starts to sound more like a locker room than a lighthearted sports flick at times.
Sexual Content: No explicit scenes, but there’s definitely some suggestive humor. Happy’s old “happy place” fantasy from the first movie gets a humorous update gone are the lingerie models, now replaced with, well… cholesterol results. It’s a joke about aging and priorities, but still rooted in that cheeky, male-gaze territory. There are a few innuendos scattered throughout, and some double entendres that adults will catch though they’ll probably fly over younger viewers’ heads.
Also, there’s a scene involving a vision of a buxom Virginia (Julie Bowen) that toes the line between goofy and awkward. It’s tame in the grand scheme of Hollywood comedy, but it’s not squeaky clean either.
Substance Use / Drugs
This is where Happy Gilmore 2 hits its most problematic note. Parents should know that alcohol use is central to the plot. While it’s not glamorized in a traditional sense, it’s not exactly handled with much care either. If you’re watching this with a teen, expect to have a post-movie talk about what real addiction looks like because this ain’t it.
Director: Kyle Newacheck
Writers: Tim Herlihy, Adam Sandler
Starring: Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, Benny Safdie, and Ben Stiller.
Release date July 25, 2025