Netflix’s sequel to Happy Gilmore, starring Adam Sandler, came out today and it features bizarre de-aged versions of a couple of the main stars.
Happy Gilmore 2 sees Sandler’s Happy pick up the golf clubs once again after ten years of retirement to try and help pay for his daughter to go to dance school in Paris.
The opening to the film fills in the gaps since we last saw the character when he won the Tour Championship and got together with Virginia Venit, played by Modern Family star Julie Bowen.
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We discover in the opening few minutes that Happy has won multiple Golf Championships, married Virginia, had five kids, and even hosted Saturday Night Live a few times.
In the process, however, they use de-ageing technology to show the pair across the years.
Bowen is only briefly shown de-aged after Happy’s 1996 championship win, however, Sandler is shown multiple times being de-aged for a commercial, his championship win, and multiple SNL appearances.
The CGI effect walks the line of the uncanny valley in a way that will be sure to creep out some viewers when they sit down this weekend to watch the film.
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Bowen had actually revealed last year that the film would feature de-ageing in an interview with Collider.
She spoke about her excitement to be back on set with Sandler and Christopher McDonald, the actor who plays Shooter McGavin, after 29 years.
Speaking about the de-ageing, Bowen said: “It is really weird. This is not a spoiler, but because there are flashbacks, they have to put me in the hair and the clothes from then, which are not my faves.
“It’s fun because they also get to de-age me, which I’ve never gotten done. I’m like, 'Cool, I can’t wait to see what that is.'”
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The film, brought to Netflix as part of Sandler’s deal with the streamer, has received mixed reviews from critics and fans after its release today.
The film received a rotten score of 58% on Rotten Tomatoes, with Nick Shager of The Daily Beast going as far as to say: “Arguably the least inspired film in the actor’s canon, if not all of movie history.”
Lewis Glazebrook of Screen Rant said: “Happy Gilmore 2 has its moments, but ultimately fails where it counts, thanks to an unfocused plot, gratuitous cameos, and unearned nostalgia.”
Fans were more keen, however, leading to a 72% fan score.
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One review of the film from a fan said: “You did well Adam! All the flash back memories were perfect! Wasn’t as good as the first but that was always going to be the case. Worth the watch."
Happy Gilmore 2 is available to watch on Netflix now.
Topics: Adam Sandler, Netflix, Film, TV and Film
Michael Slavin