The greatest sports comedy... ever!

Rating: 9/10 (5 November 2005)

Watching Happy Gilmore for the first time after a year or two, I was struck by just how funny the whole film is. For some strange, strange reason, this film was given horrible reviews by most 'big' critics. It scores only 58% approval on RottenTomatoes.com, and an even less impressive 31% on MetaCritic.com. I think I can see why  it is exactly the sort of film people can point out all the weaknesses in and feel superior too. This is a shame, because Happy Gilmore belongs on any list of the greatest sports comedies of all time.
Adam Sandler stars as Happy Gilmore, an unsuccessful hockey player whose grandmother has not paid her taxes in years. When the IRS takes over her house, Happy has no choice but to put his grandmother in a nursing home for the time being. In one of his most underrated roles, Ben Stiller plays the supervisor at the nursing home. This is a man who is almost comically evil. When an old lady complains her fingers hurt, he replies, "Aww, well, now your back's gonna hurt, because you just pulled landscaping duty!" While at the driving range, Happy discovers he has a strange talent  he can drive a golf ball 400 yards. Realizing that winning the PGA tour could allow him to buy his grandmother's house back, he teams up with retired golfer Chubbs (Carl Weathers) and becomes a golfer. Julie Bowen stars as Virginia Venit, Happy's love interest. And, in an absolutely brilliant performance, Christopher McDonald plays Shooter McGavin, one of the most memorable comedic villains ever.
The film is constantly funny, charming, and well paced at an hour and a half. You can watch this film over and over again, and it will not get old. This is Adam Sandler's best comedy.