Adam Sandler Doesn't Want 'Happy Gilmore 2' to be Another Cursed Comedy Sequel, but Can He Stop it from Happening?
It is very rare that a comedy classic is able to recapture the magic of the original, so when I heard that 'Happy Gilmore 2' was in the works for Netflix, my first thought was, I'd rather watch 2 big, fat naked bikers in the woods, off 17, having sex.
Everybody seems to be coming around, well I'm not Doug! Or at least I wasn't until The Sandman weighed in for the first time since Shooter McGavin shot his mouth off.
Turns out this decision was not made lightly and in fact, has been something he's been working on for quite some time.
I'd like to think that this isn't about the money (he was the highest paid actor in 2023 and doesn't need it).
I'd like to think that he just finally had an epiphany on how the second movie would work 20+ years later (gonna be 30 by the time it releases).
I'd like to think that he's in the lab cooking up another comedy classic so worthy of our time that it reignites the genre (he's currently filming a star-studded project with George Clooney).
I'd like to think all of those things, but the question then becomes does he still have his fastball? Can he dig down deep and give us one more GOAT worthy performance?
The last time Sandler "tried" in a comedy, in my mind, was 'Funny People'. It was the golden age of Apatow, the rumors of Adam being "past his prime" had started and he was gonna show everyone that they were wrong.
He was so committed he gave up the glory of being the Bear Jew in 'Inglourious Basterds' and what did he get for his efforts? Panned. Everyone saying they were right and this was the proof.
From that point forward, it was re-teaming with friends and Netflix money falling from the heavens. He didn't have to try anymore and therefore he didn't. It all became very formulaic when the box office was no longer involved. Slap his name on a title, come up with a loose script, call his friends, fly to an exotic location to film, wash, rinse and repeat. (Funny enough the plot of 'Funny People,' which again, was not funny)
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No one was faulting him for the cash grab when he was making 'Hubie Halloween,' but 'Happy Gilmore'? Now you're fucking with our childhoods.
Why tarnish the crown jewel of your career after all this time? Why, after years of saying no, is he suddenly saying yes? And then it hit me. What if this isn't Brett Farve not knowing when to hang it up? What if this is Tom Brady seeing the perfect situation and snagging that final ring in Tampa Bay?
This isn't a 60-year-old Sly Stallone getting back into the ring for 'Rocky Balboa,' this is "wise Rocky" snagging an Oscar nom for 'Creed.'
Hearing that he's been planning this since well BEFORE the passing of Bob Barker gives me some hope (Bob passed in August of 2023). Hearing that there were plans for Bob, Carl Weathers and Joe Flaherty that now need to be re-worked makes me sad, but hearing that he told Shooter to shut his trap before he put his foot in it and he told everyone anyway makes me furious.
This cannot be rushed. Threading this needle will not be easy and I would be more than happy to hear that Adam walked away from Happy because he wasn't happy with the script.
This goes one of 2 ways. You end up on the short list of: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, 22 Jump Street, Rush Hour 2, American Pie 2, Wayne’s World 2, Ted 2, Bad Boys 2, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me/ Goldmember, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls as some of the greats
Or in the graveyard of nostalgia bait too long to list
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Don't ask me why I think The Sandman can make this work because I have no stats to back it up. By all accounts it's the wrong call. He's got nothing to gain, nothing more to prove and no one left to impress, but goddammit if I don't think he's got one more left in the chamber! One final swan song. (I'll probably be proven wrong, but you'll watch anyway. Can't fight fate and Netflix knows as you live and breathe, if he's in the movie, you'll press play.)