In 1996, *Happy Gilmore* motivated many of us to shift our perspective on golf, or at least on how to handle a golf club. Now, three decades later, a sequel has arrived. *Happy Gilmore 2* features Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, and Christopher McDonald, who sat down with Mashable’s Executive Producer, Mark Stetson, to discuss the original film’s cultural significance, essential components that had to be included in the sequel, and the technology utilized in the new movie to generate archival footage of themselves from the past 30 years.
*Happy Gilmore 2* resumes the journey of Happy (Adam Sandler) and Virginia (Julie Bowen), who have expanded their family and prospered thanks to Happy’s achievements in the golfing arena. However, after a family crisis shakes their existence, Happy, who has since left the golf scene, must return to the sport to fund his daughter’s education. Naturally, his ongoing rivalry with Shooter McGavin (McDonald) presents a challenge he needs to overcome to regain his status as one of golf’s greatest players.
In the interview, Bowen and McDonald share whether they sensed the magnitude the 1996 original film would eventually reach. Bowen responds instantly: “Oh, God. No… It was my first movie, so I had no clue that it could be this huge.” McDonald had a stronger instinct regarding the film’s possibilities, stating, “I mean, I had a feeling about it. I don’t know how predictable that is, though, because in this industry, we can never be sure. Sometimes, I’ve done amazing work, and then it performs *mezza* at the box office. But then people come to appreciate it later.”
*Happy Gilmore 2* includes several critical flashback sequences where they needed to devise a method to portray Happy hosting *SNL* in the 2000s and winning various PGA titles. This, according to Sandler, involved “a significant amount of special effects. More than I’ve ever used in my life.” Bowen elaborates on the experience. “After every scene, you have to enter this truck filled with hundreds of cameras… and stand there thinking, ‘Are they capturing my essence?’ But they collect every single detail about you in that outfit and rejuvenate your appearance.”
The interview concludes with Sandler discussing how he maintained his authenticity throughout his career. “At the start, you don’t even realize who you are. Well, I didn’t know who I was. Suddenly, I was working and engaging in projects that, when I’d be on set or watching, I’d think, ‘I like that. I’m so glad to be part of that, but I don’t know if it’s precisely what brings me joy,’ or something similar. Then my friends and I began saying, ‘Let’s aim to create pieces that we cherished growing up.’ Things like the classic *Saturday Night Live* performers, the *Animal Houses*, and the *Caddyshacks*. We felt we wanted to inhabit that realm for the younger generation. We never thought we could match their excellence, but we did our best to bring happiness to the youth.”
*Happy Gilmore 2* is now available for streaming on Netflix.