Happy Gilmore (1996)

It even makes you laugh if you play in French with English subtitles

Just saw it. True...not much in the way of bonus features.

But after you watch it once (or more) in English. It's kind of a kick to then watch in French with English subtitles.
(You can make that selection under LANGUAGE (You can select FRENCH for language and then ENGLISH subtitles.).

The reason I find it especially fun is because it really gets me the way the movie critics are so snobby about Sandler...yet some of the same themes are found in foreign films. When Fellini shows characters or actions considered kind of vulgar or grotesque...it's considered ART. When it happens in Adam Sandler movies the critics call it juvenile or worse.

So, I can't help but suspect if the critics were presented HAPPY GILMORE as a foreign movie...
(French with English subtitles) and told that Sandler was some kind of neorealist comic...or whatever kind of jargon they might throw around to feel important...it would be acclaimed.

Maybe that's why it's playing in France... They can appreciate it! (I guess that's why they took the trouble to dub in French...to sound as though it's actually spoken in French...with lip synced!) Even the romantic parts play well in French!

I happen to agree that Sandler is way underrated. It's not just they his films make you laugh...which is a big deal. But I think part of his power in Happy Gilmore and similar movies is that he's more honest about the range of human characteristics...some noble...some...not exactly noble.,..but human. So, we can identify.

So, even while I'm not enthusiastic about the uncouth parts (and violence) I do think he very accurately expresses our impulses. And he almost ALWAYS plays someone who struggles to do the right thing...

Anyway... Forget the critics...and my ponderous comments. It's a fun movie! December 29, 2008

Better Than I Thought

Happy Gilmore looks great in HD. It definitely has vivid colors that pop off the screen. Some high def movies have similar video quality to the DVD version, but this isn't one of them. I highly recommend getting this. November 24, 2008

Funny and disgusting

I didn't get this movie the first time I saw it. The second time I was in hysterics. One day it was on TV while my mom was visiting. The scene where the Asian lady comes into the room in Happy's shirt both disgusted and cracked my mom up. I couldn't stop laughing at her reaction. It's making me laugh now. Thanks Happy! November 14, 2008

happy gilmore

This is a great movie and the highlight is when Happy gets a beat down from Bob Barker! It will leave you in stitches! October 19, 2008

Adam Sandler At His Best

The second you hear Adam Sandler's voice saying, "Hi, I'm Happy Gilmore," you know this is going to be a funny movie. From its humorous jokes and vulgar language to the crude and insane parts, this movie will keep you laughing the whole time. Along with well known actors such as Christopher McDonald (Shooter), Julie Brown (Virginia), Carl Weathers (Chubbs) and of course, Bob Barker, this movie delivers a punch and leaves the audience falling of their seats with laughter.
I've always thought that you could never go wrong with Adam Sandler, and this movie certainly proves my point. I have been a long time Adam Sandler fan and in my opinion, this is one of his best films. After his big movie debut a year earlier in, "Billy Madison (1995)," Sandler continues to prove that he is the real deal. In Happy Gilmore (1996), Sandler's dream is to become a professional hockey player but he isn't good enough to even make his local hockey team. He lives and breathes hockey and has a very wild and aggressive attitude while playing it. After finding out that his grandmother's house belongs to the government because of unpaid taxes, Sandler quickly finds a way to get the money for her. He is challenged to hit a golf ball by the movers and he winds up hitting it 400 yards. With the help of Chubbs and Virginia, Happy has to learn to keep his anger under control while playing the game, which is very difficult for him. The big ending is Happy facing Shooter for his grandmother's house because of an inside bet that was made between the two.
There were many parts of the movie that made it unique to itself. First, the soundtrack of this movie creates a perfect scene. This movie lacked depressing music, while various artists such as Lynard Skynard, House of Pain and Kansas, kept Happy Gilmore fast and upbeat and also created an exciting and exhilarating mood. Another element was the lighting throughout the movie. Since most of the movie took place outside on a golf course, it was bright outside. Although the director could have made rainy days, he chose to make the days sunny which could have given away that there was going to be a typical, "happy ending." And the last thing that I thought made this movie unique was bringing Bob Barker into the movie. I couldn't stop laughing after Sandler's and Barker's fight and how Sandler said to Barker, after he punched him to the ground, "The price is wrong, bitch." That was one of the best scenes of the whole movie.
Looking at the plot structure of this movie, it is pretty plain and simple and there is not much to it. The movie is your average film with an average plot, however, it's Sandler's character that makes the plot so much more interesting. Put an average, unknown actor as Sandler's character in this movie and you you'll get a totally different movie. Sandler has a very unique character that he plays in all of his movies and only he can be that character. That's what is so great about Adam Sandler. He makes films amazing by just being his hilarious self which no one else can recreate. There was also a lot of symbolism in the film. The fact that Sandler's golf equipment is shaped like hockey sticks show how hockey is still his whole life and he isn't trying to change. The theme in the movie is also pretty basic. It's the typical, "If you stick with it, you will succeed." The viewer can see this by how Happy goes through the, "giving up" stage which is followed by his friends telling him he can do it, and then he winds up getting everything he wants in the end, the money and the girl.
Overall, this is a hilarious film that will keep the audience laughing the whole time. Although it is not an amazing film, it makes up for its flaws with its comedy. Scenes such as Sandler playing mini golf and tearing apart a mechanical clown on one of the holes to the more sincere scenes with Sandler and the girl he falls in love with keep the audience interested and entertained throughout the movie. I own this movie for a reason; because I love it, and I think you will too.

October 1, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...