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ArthouseSchmarthouse’s review published on Letterboxd:
6.5 Netflix
As hit and miss as all of Sandler's comedies, but HAPPY GILMORE has plenty of heart to go along with all of the standard Sandler-isms. A sports movie which follows the standard template, but in truth the plot is mostly there to support an endless stream of gags, some funny, some not so much. What is interesting about the film-- and much of Sandler's output, really-- and what accounts for its huge popularity is the fact that at its core this is a film about a working class hero taking on the stuffy, hoity-toity upper classes at their own game: and succeeding. The Sandler character is, of course, a caricature of a working class man-- full of anger, vulgarity and emotion-- but there is a purity and sense of innocence to him that finds arguably it's finest expression here. Happy is frequently enraged, but quick to calm down and apologise; his vulgar side contrasted with a genuine sweetness and sense of loyalty shown towards his beloved grandma. It is no wonder that this character strikes a chord with so many; even when the characterisation descends into pure fantasy-- by, say, having Julie Bowen throw herself headlong at him-- it works because you can understand why the audience might want to be him.
Anyway, that's a lot to say: film's good, pretty funny in places, Sandler is good, Carl Weathers is even better.
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