Cast: Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore, Christopher McDonald as shooter McGavin, Julie Bowen as Virginia Bennett, Frances Bay as Grandma, Carl Weathers as chubs, Allen covert as Otto, Robert Smigel as IRS Agent, Bob Barker as himself, lee Trevino as himself, Dennis Dugan as Doug, Kevin Nealon as Potter, joe Flaherty as jeering Fan, Jared Van Snellenberg as caddie

Written By: Tim Herlihy (The Wedding Singer, Pixels) and Adam Sandler

Directed By: Dennis Dugan (Big Daddy)

Original Score By: Mark Mothersbaugh (Thor Ragnarok, the Mitchell’s Vs The Machines)

Studio: Universal

release Year: 1996

Runtime: 92 minutes

Rated PG-13

Audio Description By: Deluxe

Written by:

Narrated By:

What is it: A rage fueled failed hockey player (Sandler) decides to take his unconventional talents to the golf course to win money and save his grandmother’s home from being auctioned off. His talents attract the attention of an aging former golfer (Weathers) who believes hee can get Happy to win the Pro tour, and also the ire of Shooter McGavin (McDonald), who believes this year is his year. Along the way, Happy will also pick up a romantic love interest in Virginia (Bowen), a publicist for the pro tour who sees something in Happy perhaps no one sees.

What Works: I think this is a top five Sandler comedy for sure. Certainly if you take out Sandler’s dramatic work, and films like Uncut Gems. It is still funny and quotable nearly 30 years later. “The price is wrong bitch.” Is a classic, or if you had the edited version on cable, “The price is wrong, Bob”, which is still a solid substitute. Sandler started out with his bawdy college humor brand in billy Madison, which still has some truly terrific moments, but just a year later he seems to have learned how to channel that humor in an even more productive direction.

29 years ago, I would have wanted to tell critics they were wrong on this one. It seemed like people didn’t like Sandler’s brash style of humor in the criticism world, yet the film was a success, and remained a comedy classic. I remember my first time watching this, exactly which theater, and even nearly the auditorium. I know the general direction, so it could have been one of two screens next to each other.This is truly imprinted on me, and I think for the most part I’ve judged all Sandler comedies by this since. I’m not sure he’s made a comedy I’ve really loved that wasn’t animated under his deal with Netflix, so it has been a few years since I’ve loved his work as a comedian. because of that, this feels like home. it feels like I’ve been on a long Adam sandler trip, and now I’m back in the comfort of happy Gilmore.

Christopher McDonald is an excellent foil for him, and the various cameos throughout work really well. While it is really odd for Chubs to have a wooden hand in the 90’s, as if Sandler didn’t know what the state of prosthetics was, it does lead to Sandler beating the crap out of an alligator. But, the depiction could have been better.Sandler certainly has come a long way since this, and depending on how you like him, this might be at the top of your list, or you might prefer one of his more romantic comedies like The Wedding Singer. Either way, Sandler was best before he got too old, and lost the profane characters he created in the 90’s. This film holds up, and if I took a Sandler film to a desert island, of the comedies, it would either be this or Big Daddy for me.

What Doesn’t Work: the film could almost be perfect without Julie Bowen. not that I don’t love her, but these characters Sandler created in the early part are truly losers, slobs, and suffer from anger management issues. there’s no reason he should seem attractive to her, as he does virtually nothing to win her attention.Later films make sense, as he grows up and softens, but this and billy Madison make no sense to have a romantic angle.

the Audio Description: deluxe did a really nice track. it does a good job of tracking various cameos, and sight gags. I was fairly impressed by the way it actually got a lot of the film in there. before losing my sight, I easily saw this at least ten times, and the audio description hit every beat I could think of. There’s even a great running joke with Lee Trevino, and the writer clocked him every time, and used his full name when he was in frame.

why You Might Like it: comedy is your brand, you are OK with the frat boy humor that seems lost to everyone but Shane Gilles nowadays. They really don’t make them like they used to, which is concerning about the sequel. but, if you’ve casually sampled Adam Sandler, and somehow haven’t seen this, you should. it’s literally iconic enough it is half the name of his production company. And, Sandler has only ever made one other sequel before, Grown ups 2.

Why You Might Not Like it: Comedy is subjective. if you despise Sandler, I’m not sure this will change your mind. However, if you despise Sandler solely based on the content he’s made for Netflix, do yourself a favor and watch something he made before 2005.

Final Thoughts: Sandler’s long time ace in the hole is a comedy classic. No question. Somewhere, the critics of the days of yore are rolling in their graves.

Fresh: Final Grade: 8.8/10