The Film
"Damn you people. This is golf. Not a rock concert."
The 1996 comedy Happy Gilmore can probably be blamed for the rockification of the sport of golf. It can definitely be blamed for the evolution of Adam Sandler.
Once again, Sandler plays the title character, who possess the gift of golf. Unfortunately, he's a wannabe hockey player. Dreams don't matter, however, when grandma (Frances Bay) is in danger of losing her home. To get the money she owes to the government, Happy heads out on the PGA tour, where he's mentored by the one-handed club pro (Carl Weathers) and tormented by one of his competitors (Christopher McDonald, at his absolute weasliest).
It's almost identical to the plot of Billy Madison, when you think about it. However, it's a better produced movie, and more importantly, a funnier movie. Even haters should get a few chuckles out of this one. It helps that Sandler rounds out his ensemble with Julie Bowen, Ben Stiller, Bob Barker and Lee Travino. It's also Sandler's first pairing with director/actor Dennis Dugan, who has directed pretty much every Sandler comedy since.
The Picture
This 1.85:1 transfer is a nice step up from Universal's companion release of Billy Madison. Yes, the film is newer (by a whole year), but offers a lot more outdoor scenery to ogle over. There's occasional noise, but what you do catch won't matter. The golf greens are pretty awesome, with bold colors and some nice textures. The film also has better black levels and brighter colors throughout.
The Sound
Happy Gilmore makes pretty good use of Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. When Happy makes a shot, it rumbles with feeling. Shots whoosh through the surrounds, with the bass adding a nice punch. Sandler's musical taste comes through the soundfield nicely, via Pilot, Kansas, House of Pain, and other bands. It's not the immersive experience that it could be, but it's not too shabby, either.
The Extras
The selection here is even thinner than what Universal gave us on Billy Madison. There's about 18 minutes of deleted scenes and a 5-minute blooper reel. It would have been nice to have Dugan do a commentary or get his own featurette. Also, Bob Barker got both spayed and neutered; there's no love for him here.
Final Thoughts
Universal could have offered more extras, but this is probably the best release that Happy Gilmore will ever get. It's not too bad, though, with a nice image and decent audio. Despite what you may want to admit, Happy Gilmore is funny. If you're going to buy one Adam Sandler comedy, this is the one you want to own.
Product Details
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