Fast-Paced and Relaxing Sandler Film

Rating: 7/10 (24 September 2006)

If you don't like Adam Sandler, you won't like this film. But that should be obvious. This one is not as laugh-out-loud funny as "Billy Madison" nor as subtle in its witty humor as "Wedding Singer", but is one of the easiest to watch for just winding down after a long day.
Happy Gilmore is a hockey player who has no future in hockey. So he becomes a golfer instead (not unlike the guy from "The Cutting Edge" who became a figure skater). Luckily, he's a very good golfer because he needs the money to save his grandmother's house from being repossessed so she can escape from Ben Stiller's sadistic nursing home.
Again, you won't get any over-the-top laughs like the singing clown from "Billy Madison" and no obscure references like "Wedding Singer", but lots of little jokes to keep you going. Most memorable is the fight between Adam Sandler and Bob Barker, which is probably not only one of the film's best moments, but no doubt created a resurgence in "Price is Right" fans among the college age demographic.
And then there's the appearance of a ghost of Abraham Lincoln, which is either completely nonsensical or some very subtle racial joke. Oh, and then there's the midget on the tricycle. Does it make sense? No, but it does not have to.
In my opinion, the film is not worth owning (I'd rather own "The Wedng Singer") but is still one of those you can watch again and again because of its light and fluffy nature (sort of like Jell-O). And who doesn't want to help save their grandmother?