Nearly 30 years after the release of “Happy Gilmore,” Adam Sandler is back on the golf course in “Happy Gilmore 2.” Naturally, the expectations were high for the sequel since the first movie’s comedic underdog sports story made it beloved by many. Although it fell short of the standard set by the original, it still offers enough humor to be a worthy follow-up.

Happy isn’t just playing golf out of rage this time. Now that he’s older, the movie is more emotional—he’s worn out and dealing with personal issues, while being calmer than before, not losing his temper at every little setback. Adam Sandler balances the silly, angry humor that fans expect with a more emotional and mature side, showing that even Happy Gilmore has grown up.

The movie’s greater focus is the introduction of the Maxi League, a high-stakes golf tournament that makes the competition more intense and exciting than before. It also gives Happy new problems to solve, such as a sneaky villain played by Ben Safdie, but he is helped by his caddie Oscar, who provides a good amount of energy and humor throughout. Oscar cheers loudly, makes funny comments about other players, and in the end, even faints, unintentionally sending the golf ball into the hole and securing Happy’s victory.

Despite the addition of new characters such as Oscar, there is a fair amount of familiar faces. Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald) is still involved, and he’s still as arrogant as ever. Hal (Ben Stiller) even shows up once again. Although the audience enjoys these callbacks, the film overuses them —for example, by reiterating some of Shooter McGavin’s previous taunts—instead of developing original plots or humorous moments. 

Instead of relying so heavily on nostalgia, the movie could have concentrated more on creating new humorous lines or rivalries between characters.

The movie also has a surprising amount of cameos. Appearances are made by NFL star Travis Kelce, golf legends Rory McIlroy and John Daly, rapper Eminem, and many more. Some are smart and funny, while others are pointless, but they definitely got the audience going crazy.

Even with its focus on familiar characters, the sequel surprises viewers with a shift in tone. The first movie was mostly filled with silliness, but this one discusses more significant topics, such as family. Although some fans might miss the pure comedy that made the original so memorable, I believe that the change works overall, adding more emotional depth to the story.

Ultimately, “Happy Gilmore 2” wasn’t a hole-in-one, but it definitely wasn’t a complete swing and a miss. While it doesn’t quite match the original’s magic, it brings its own ideas—like the Maxi League and a more emotional side to Happy—making it an entertaining and fresh enough follow-up.

Overall, I give this movie a 3.5 out of 5.