Happy Gilmore

Universal Pictures | Release Date: February 16, 1996

8.2	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 400 Ratings

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User Reviews

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AndrewNJul 27, 2007

Comical but ultimately shallow and brainless entertainment. To be honest its an affront to the sport of golf. Its just like a sweet. Tasty on the outside but lacks lack substance underneath. Still this is Sandlers best movie. Not that that Comical but ultimately shallow and brainless entertainment. To be honest its an affront to the sport of golf. Its just like a sweet. Tasty on the outside but lacks lack substance underneath. Still this is Sandlers best movie. Not that that says much. Hardly worth watching.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful

StevenFAug 10, 2013

There isn no denying that the steam roller success story that is the career of Adam Sandler has had an impact on the comedy genre for the past 20 years. Whether loved or loathed, this guy has made a fortune attempting to make people laugh,There isn no denying that the steam roller success story that is the career of Adam Sandler has had an impact on the comedy genre for the past 20 years. Whether loved or loathed, this guy has made a fortune attempting to make people laugh, Happy Gilmore, while juvenile, crude, promoting violence for laughs and being utterly brainless, is quite a hysterical and side-splitting story, for all its faults, one can't help but appreciate some of the hilarious scenes throughout the film.
Sandler stars as the titular character, a short-tempered and hockey player whose reckless behaviour lands him in many sticky spots, most notably not getting picked for his team for the next season. His stubbornness to play a game he isn't very good at, apart from a killer snapshot, puts him in the crosshair of a guy called Chubbs, who witnesses Happy and shot and sees a gleaming opportunity to stick him on a golf course, Happy sees the materialistic side of things after his grandmother has failed to pay her taxes and is placed in a nursing home, I suppose thats where the heart of the movie stems from.
This sets up what can only be described as ridiculous but also memorable scenes in comedy history. Happy of course receives a cold reception but immediately makes an impression, not to the amusement of the board. He curses, dresses casually and chats up girls cheering him on, and he also punches Bob Barker. With the shallow film though, there obviously comes the predictable nature of how things are going to play out, making for some rather senseless plot points and even characters. Happy himself is also quite a character who is difficult to relate to, his actions are often questionable and I can't help wonder, 'what was the point?" There is also a heavy basis of product placement, which sort of comes with Sandler territory nowadays, but when an actual ad, passed over as part of the film, actually appears in the running time, its enraging to say the least.
With all the flaws, Happy Gilmore certainly won't stick out to reasonable movie lovers, but it should maybe be known as a guilty pleasure for its hilarity in many moments, quite a talented cast including Ben Stiller running an OAP sweatshop and an array of famous faces does make quite a funny and long lasting film.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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SeriosityJan 18, 2013

It is not completely dismissible like many of his more recent films. Shallow entertainment at best, but at least it is funny. Still not for most who aren't Sandler fans.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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bladeagentMar 1, 2014

I suppose those who enjoy Adam Sandler's shtick will find this film to be a comedy masterpiece. However those who don't will call it a disjointed mess.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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MasterRileyAug 12, 2016

Happy Gilmore has a decent story and some good comedy, but its also cliched and cheesy time and time again. Its an average movie good for some laughs.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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omotestGumpApr 2, 2023

Sandler was popular on SNL. He went into the movie business, but was not well received.

I like Sandler's movies. I think his characters are interesting and fun to watch. But Sandler in this movie is still young. Maybe he is immature. InsteadSandler was popular on SNL. He went into the movie business, but was not well received.

I like Sandler's movies. I think his characters are interesting and fun to watch. But Sandler in this movie is still young. Maybe he is immature. Instead of a fun performance, he is angry and fussy. This is not good.

The script is also stupid. There are a number of things that shouldn't be in a movie. But we can see them not as flaws, but as good points. Sometimes stupidity is necessary. Who came up with the idea of Carl Weathers being injured by an alligator, or a person being injured by a falling air conditioner?
After all, we all like Sandler's comedy, no matter how stupid it is. I'm not so sure about Sandler's performance in this film, though.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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MorganFApr 17, 2009

Um, hello? It's Adam Sandler, people. What do you expect?

0 of 0 users found this helpful

clem666Jan 16, 2022

Opinions seem to be really polarized when it comes to 'Happy Gilmore'! As far as I am concerned I can say it is hard to give it a number. So I'm glad you're reading my comment rather than just looking on the number I gave to this movie.

IOpinions seem to be really polarized when it comes to 'Happy Gilmore'! As far as I am concerned I can say it is hard to give it a number. So I'm glad you're reading my comment rather than just looking on the number I gave to this movie.

I can't really say I honestly disliked it. I enjoyed the pace of the feature: jokes are so quick that you can easily move on if you don't like them. Obviously the majority of them are lame, overly violent, childish or just gross but at least they come and go fast. I would say the longest and heaviest joke is the movie itslef and its pathetic scenario. However and since I consider this film to be a joke machine, it is obvious that some of them manage to hit the mark. All the Grandma side could have been way more exploited in order to deepen Sandler's character. But instead we don't know where we are going until the last quarter of the movie. Cardboard scenario.

Chubbs (embodied by Carl Weathers) is a great character, maybe the best of the whole movie ! Great acting, he makes the plot move on, funny performance, and maintains his point of view from beginning to end without thinking about money and fame, as all the other characters do. Virginia (Julie Bowen) only appear because she is a woman. She sadly has no other role than that. In addition to that director Dennis Dugan couldn't prevent to sexualize her even more in some terrible scenes.

I kind of enjoyed the energy and the vivacity of 'Happy Gilmore', especially the one brought by Happy (Adam Sandler). I have many things to reproach him with but I can't deny he gave an interesting tone to the whole product. Great for that. However I truly hated his constant violence. I guess Dennis Dugan also found funny to beat many people's asses. I think it wasn't necessary to be amusing. On the opposite, the questions about what kind of sport golf is and should be were great !

In conclusion, I liked "Happy Gilmore" because I am an adult, able to think about what is and should be fun. And what such violence should not be. Officially potentially dangerous to children and influenceable teenagers.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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