Happy Gilmore 2

You either get the Sandman or you don't. For me, HAPPY GILMORE 2 is a hilarious, 500 yard drive right down the center of the fairway, loaded with laughs, great physical comedy and plenty of nostalgia for fans of the OG.

It's been almost three decades since the original film hit theaters, on its way to becoming a comedy classic, Bob Barker fist fights included.

Adam Sandler has become a much better actor in the past thirty years, delivering powerful, dramatic performances in films like Paul Thomas Anderson's "Punch Drunk Love" and the Safdie's "Uncut Gems".

His dramatic chops give his comedic side a stronger base, even in wild, goofy comedies like this one.

It's been a long time since we saw Happy win a major.

The opening sequence offers up a hilarious update on Happy's fall from Grace. A rite of passage for every movie sports hero, we watch his decline and after a tragic driving (gold ball not car) accident changes his life, Happy swears to never pick up a driver again.

The opening twenty minutes carves out Happy's new life, with John Daly living in Happy's garage and both of them concealing liquor in every possible way you can think of, and then some.

When Happy's daughter Vienna (real life daughter Sunny) has the chance to attend a prestigious ballet school in Paris, he realizes he better find a way back to the golf course.

What follows is an onslaught of golf and family hijinks that made us laugh a LOT.

Happy decides to try a round of golf at a local course and the threesome he's paired with (Eric Andre and Margaret Qualley showing off comic chops) prove to be in for a dangerous time. The final golf cart crash of the sequence is comic perfection.

A star studded golf gallery pops up through the entire film.

Steve Buscemi, Kevin Nealon, Post Malone, Eminem and Nick Swardson deliver guffaws.

Jon Lovitz is hilarious and Julie Bowen keeps popping up in the Talia Shire inspirational role to Happy's Rocky Balboa.

You can't have a sequel without Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald). Only a Sandler comedy could have a story arc this insane for the egotistical golfer, who's constantly telling everyone he was the greatest golfer of the 90's. Sandler is always there to mutter "...well yeah, except for me and Tiger".

Benny Safdie shows up with the mad plot device that drives the last half of the film, challenging the PGA tour to a face off against his new golf league that looks like a cross between "WipeOut" and the LIV tour.

Every major PGA star turns up and they're clearly having a great time being part of Sandler's world. Bubba Watson, Scottie Scheffler, Jack Nicklaus, Rory McIlroy, Fred Couples all show off their comedy skills, with Scheffler getting the biggest laughs.

If you've ever watched Sandler's behind the scenes clips, it's clear that he and his production team have a lot of fun making these films and it pops off the screen.

The last twenty minutes is absolutely stupid and hilarious, not an easy mix.

Sandler's lived-in characters have seen a lot of life, but don't be deceived. Just when you think Happy has mellowed into a softie, he pulls out that driver and delivers BIG laughs.

Verne Lundquist, famed golf announcer is absolutely hilarious every time he's on screen. The guy has a comedy career when he's done on the links, as does Bad Bunny, damn funny here as Happy's new caddy who, let's just say, doesn't know much about the sport.

It was interesting watching two comedic franchises come out this week, decades after their last entry. For me, HAPPY GILMORE 2 is funnier, more balanced and brings back the feel of the series in a way that "The Naked Gun" reboot didn't achieve for its legacy.

If you don't like Sandler, you probably don't like "Airplane" or "Austin Powers" either, so don't bother teeing it up with Happy. But for those of us that enjoy his comedy, HAPPY GILMORE 2 delivers nostalgia and big laughs from the first tee to the clubhouse.

It gets a VERY solid and very, very funny B.

A massive hit on Netflix, with 47 million views its first weekend, let's hope we haven't seen the last of Happy!