As a longtime fan of Adam Sandler’s work, especially his 90s comedies from the early days of Happy Madison Productions, Happy Gilmore holds a special place in my heart. Released in 1996, it stands out as one of Sandler’s funniest films, appealing not only to his core audience but even to those who might not typically enjoy his comedic style.
Nearly 30 years later, a sequel, Happy Gilmore 2, is set to hit Netflix. However, after watching the trailer unveiled at Netflix’s Tudum event on May 31, 2025, I can’t help but feel underwhelmed. As someone who was genuinely excited for the sequel, the trailer left me with a sense of unfulfilled anticipation. The spark that made the original film so beloved seems to be missing.
What We Learned from the Happy Gilmore 2 Trailer
The Happy Gilmore 2 trailer offers little in terms of plot specifics but confirms it is a direct continuation of the original film. It hints at the return of several original cast members, though the narrative remains somewhat vague. The first teaser dropped in December 2024, followed by another in March 2025, but it wasn’t until the most recent trailer that we got a clearer sense of the film’s direction.
In the first Happy Gilmore, Sandler’s character, Happy, is a hot-tempered ice hockey player with a hidden talent for golf. After discovering his skill, he teams up with his coach Chubbs (the late Carl Weathers) to compete in tournaments and win money to save his grandmother’s home from being foreclosed. By the film’s end, Happy triumphs, defeats his arrogant rival Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald), and wins the girl, Virginia (Julie Bowen).
A Familiar Plot with Few Surprises
The plot of Happy Gilmore 2 follows a similar trajectory. The film picks up 30 years after the original, with Happy facing a new problem: he needs money to send his daughter to an expensive ballet school. To raise the funds, he returns to his old golf career. However, Happy has been out of the game for some time and will need help from a coach to get back into form.
The rest of the storyline mirrors the original: Happy enters a tournament, hires a quirky caddy (Bad Bunny), experiences both highs and lows during the competition, and faces off against new rivals. Fans of the original will recognize some familiar faces, such as Ben Stiller reprising his role as the creepy nurse Hal, and there’s a new addition in the form of Chubbs’ son, played by Lavell Crawford, a likely tribute to the late Carl Weathers.
Why the Happy Gilmore 2 Trailer Missed the Mark
Despite the nostalgia factor, something feels off about the trailer. The humor and emotional depth that made the original so memorable are notably absent. The storyline feels too repetitive, which is understandable given that Happy needs to return to golf. But the film doesn’t seem to find a clear direction, falling short of distinguishing itself from the original while also failing to capture its original magic. The script, as seen in the trailer, lacks creativity.
Another issue lies in Sandler’s ongoing trend of casting his family members in his films. While this is a personal choice, it distracts from the main focus of the movie. In Happy Gilmore 2, Sandler’s daughter, Sunny Sandler, takes on a lead role. She’s an excellent actress, as seen in You Are Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, but her presence feels out of place in a sequel to a beloved film, drawing attention away from the character of Happy. Additionally, Sandler’s wife, Jackie, and another daughter, Sadie, also make brief appearances, which further dilutes the movie’s nostalgic atmosphere. Their prominence in the trailer makes it feel more like a Sandler family project rather than a true Happy Gilmore sequel.
The Unnecessary Return of Familiar Faces
The trailer includes some nostalgic callbacks, but they often feel awkward and forced. For instance, bringing back Ben Stiller as Hal seems unnecessary, and the trailer doesn’t explain why he’s returning. These callbacks feel like mere fan service rather than meaningful contributions to the plot.
The trailer also features appearances from other original cast members, but their screen time is limited. Christopher McDonald’s Shooter McGavin, a key character in the original, is barely featured—he only appears in a single shot at the very end. This is a missed opportunity, as his rivalry with Happy was central to the first film. Similarly, Julie Bowen, who played Virginia, barely appears, even though her character played a significant role in shaping Happy’s journey in the original movie.
Was the Trailer Poorly Edited?
While the trailer for Happy Gilmore 2 left me disappointed, I’m still eager to watch the film when it premieres on Netflix on July 25, 2025. That said, my expectations are now tempered. I’m hoping the trailer was simply poorly edited and that the final film will offer more. Perhaps the funniest moments are being withheld to avoid spoiling the experience, but by doing so, the trailer ultimately fails to ignite excitement among fans.
Creating a trailer is a delicate balancing act—it needs to provide enough suspense without giving too much away. Unfortunately, the Happy Gilmore 2 trailer falls short. It seems more focused on nostalgia than on offering a fresh, funny story. As a fan of the original, I was hoping for a sequel that would focus on the core characters—Happy, Virginia, Shooter, and even Chubbs—while introducing new elements. Instead, the trailer hints at a formulaic storyline with too much focus on new characters, which may not resonate with long-time fans.
Who knows? The film might prove me wrong when it’s finally released. After all, Sandler knows his audience, and his fans will likely watch no matter what. But for now, I’m holding out hope that the next trailer will do justice to the high expectations fans have for this sequel.
Happy Gilmore 2 premieres on Netflix on July 25, 2025.
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