Happy Gilmore

Year: 1996

Grade: A-

Country: USA

Director: Dugan

Review

this is the adam sandler movie that even non-sandler fans can like. it’s juvenile, but in a somewhat more endearing way that usual. perhaps it’s the dynamic between him and julie bowen. perhaps it’s the juxtaposition between the stereotypes of hockey players and golfers. here you see happy trying to become a better person, because of bowen and his grandma. we see him struggle with his anger and ultimately triumph. it’s funny to see him relapse and fight with bob barker, but we know he’s trying. this is different than some of his other films where a switch is just flipped and the puerile guy matures overnight. whatever it is, the film works both as a comedy and it even earns the sentimentality that it injects.