Film Friday: "Happy Gilmore 2," is Stuffed with Cameos and Absurd Jokes that Mostly Land

Nearly three decades since the debut film, "Happy Gilmore," we have the arrival of, "Happy Gilmore 2." Starring Adam Sandler at the titular golfer, this is by no means an Oscar-bait flick, but it is better than some would expect when looking at Sandler's less beloved flicks. I, personally, have always been a fan of Sandler's work, even if it can be hit-or-miss, and enjoy his dramatic turns as much as his comedic presentations. "Happy Gilmore 2," is definitely Sandler going all-in on silliness, however. Oh, and celebrity cameos, there are many.

Many golfers and other random friends of Sandler appear. Some have blink-and-you 'll-miss-it moments, while individuals such as Bad Bunny get a significant chunk of screen time. I don't mind the many guests whether they're Steve Buscemi as a neighbor who enjoys peeing in mailboxes, John Daly as himself living in Gilmore's garage, or Travis Kelece as a jerkish waiter. Some reviewers feel the jam-packed number of folks is a bit much, however. The plot follows Gilmore, having sworn off golf to now giving it another try, so he has funds to help a family member with school expenses. Oh, and he fights off an opposing golf league that is trying to make the sport more engaging through gimmicks. Clearly, the plot is relatively basic, but we're here for the jokes! Speaking of contrived story elements, however, some folks online have had an issue with what happens to one character within the movie before even five minutes have passed, but it did make sense for the flick's plot in terms of Gilmore not wanting to golf until it's absolutely necessary. The humor is absurd, but it mostly works. From gross-out gimmicks to a running gag of Gilmore using seemingly normal objects as flasks, it is silly fun.

Audiences clearly were into, "Happy Gilmore 2," as it received a ton of viewers on Netflix (where it debuted). I liked it, even if at almost 2 hours, some jokes felt run into the ground by the time the credits rolled. If you have Netflix and want a relatively chill comedy to enjoy, "Happy Gilmore 2," fits the bill. I would hope that if they make a third, we don't have to wait 29 years for it, though!

3 out of 5 Stars.