HAPPY GILMORE

US, 1996, 92 minutes, Colour.
Adam Sandler, Christopher Mc Donald, Carl Weathers, Julie Bowen, Frances Bay, Allen Covert, Richard Kiel, Dennis Dugan, Lee Trevino, Ben Stiller.
Directed by Dennis Dugan.

If fans were asked about the career of Adam Sandler, they would probably say that Happy Gilmore was the initial archetypal Adam Sandler film. He had made Billy Madison and had appeared in supporting roles in other films but, for the next sixteen years, at least, he was to appear mainlining at least one film a year, often two. He also worked in this film with collaborators who were to work with him in the future, Tim Herlihy with eight co-writing credits, Dennis Dugan directing him in seven films, Allen Covert (here the scruffy caddy) in thirteen films.

In fact, after this, Adam Sandler called his company, Happy Gilmore.

Once again, Sandler is the rather obnoxious and off-putting person who annoys others, undergoes some kind of transformation, finishes up being the hero and a romantic lead. He has been doing variations on this kind of character for many years, although he did get the opportunity to do something a bit different with Anger Management co-starring with Jack Nicholson as well as Punch- Drunk Love, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

The film shows Adam Sandler in his provocative rude style at the opening, with quite a number of phallic symbols. He then moves on to his brutal stage, trying out for hockey which he loves, losing his temper at the least provocation and causing mayhem. When he is rejected from the hockey teams, he is challenged to show off his ability in hitting golf balls for great distances and with great energy and is spotted by a former champion, played genially by Carl Weathers. He enters tournaments where he meets the most obnoxious and vain golfer, played with his usual aplomb by Christopher Mc Donald (as he did as Thelma’s husband in Thelma and Louise).

The plot has Happy Gilmore becoming a golf champion, unwillingly at first, criticised by the manager of the tournament (played by Dennis Dugan, the director) but a great ratings winner and pleasing the fans, which include the 007 villain, Richard Kiel who strikes terror into Christopher Mc Donald. Julie Bowen plays the PR manager of the tournament – and, needless to say, the ultimate love interest. The subplot includes Happy Gilmore trying to win enough money to buy his grandmother’s house back after it has been confiscated by the IRS. Grandma is played by Frances Bay. In the sequences in the home for the elderly where she goes to, Ben Stiller has an uncredited cameo role as an orderly who terrorises the residents.

It is a film for Adam Sandler fans – but, with the increasing focus on golf, a lot of golf fans might be interested in sitting through it. As with his other films, Adam Sandler has never been a favourite with the critics.

1. A film considered to be the Adam Sandler film? At least at the beginning of his career? The type of character, characteristics? The variations on this character in his further films?

2. The emphasis on golf? Comic? Serious? Cameos from golfers?

3. The introduction: Happy as a young boy, hockey, his father, his father’s death, going to his grandmother? His grandmother’s care for him? Her becoming an eccentric old lady? Not paying taxes? Furniture going, house being taken by the IRS? Her going to the old people’s home? Ben Stiller as the sadistic orderly? Her wanting to get out, get the home back? Supporting Happy in his golf? But wanting him to be happy – and not necessarily getting back the home? Her friendship with Virginia? The happy ending?

4. Happy, his odd jobs – and the phallic symbols? His playing hockey? His ineptness? His angers? Stabbing with the skate? Rejected by the coaches, laughed off?

5. As a character, his short temper? Lack of control? Hitting the golf ball for fun, the speed, the distance? His getting money? Chubbs seeing him, wanting to take him on? Coaching him?

6. Happy in the tournaments? His drive? Failure in the putts? People laughing? Doug Thompson allowing him the competition? Virginia and her control? The clashes with Shooter Mc Gavin? His winning some money? The failure in putting leading Chubb to coach him?

7. Chubb, genial, the story of his hand, the alligator and the eye? Happy later encountering the alligator and besting him? The coaching, Chubb’s death?

8. Happy, the tournaments, the comparisons with Shooter Mc Gavin? His control with the putts? His angers, attacking people?

9. Shooter Mc Gavin, preening, vain? His looking down on Happy? The humour with Mr Larson, Richard Kiel, the golf ball on his toe? The threats?

10. Shooter, the competition with Happy? Happy’s success? His getting in the heckler? Putting Happy off, his losing his temper? Driving the car onto the course? The tower falling?

11. Doug Thompson, the ratings, the pressure from Mc Gavin? The ultimatum to Virginia? Virginia controlling Happy’s temper? The growing friendship?

12. Otto, cleaning the car windows, the police, his becoming the caddy? The comic touches?

13. The build-up to the final competition, Happy losing, gaining momentum, the tower falling, the ricochet putt and his success? McGavin? stealing the coat and being pursued?

14. The auction, Mc Gavin buying the house, offering Granny the servant role? Happy and his getting the house back? And the happy ending?

15. The ingredients for Adam Sandler’s films and continued popularity?