Happy Gilmore

There are very few movies that are on TV in some form more often than Happy Gilmore. It's a sports classic, never gets old, and is appropriate and entertaining for everyone. Although I don't think that Happy Gilmore isn't Adam Sandler's best movie, that goes to Billy Madison for me, but it doesn't get much better for Sandler than the beginning of this movie. I think that overshadowed by Sandler often is the performance by Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin. As the villain in the movie, it's easy for people to hate Shooter. But whether you like the character or not isn't the point, McDonald arguable does a better job acting his part in the movie than Sandler.

My favorite Shooter McGavin moment definitely comes on the final day of the tour championship in the film. The crowd around the green while Shooter is putting is going nuts, throwing beach balls around and blowing fog horns. Shooter of course is not so pleased, and he has one of the most classic sports movie freak outs ever. And then goes on to sink the putt anyway. Shooter McGavin is easily one of the best villains in a sports movie of all time. He is a complete a-hole, there is just no other way to describe him.

Another great aspect of this movie are the smaller characters that make it hilarious. My two favorite have to be Happy's old boss, who happens to be a human giant, and Happy's caddy when he's golfing. Both characters add small comic relief and don't really play a major role in the movie, but there small jokes are what separate Happy Gilmore from other Adam Sandler type comedies. There is nothing better than when Shooter has to hit his ball off of Happy's old bosses foot, that is always one of the funnier moments of the movie.

Happy Gilmore is cheesy and over the top, but that is also what makes it so great. Adam Sandler made Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore within a year of each other, and he essentially plays the same role. A knucklehead that eventually finds his way in the world, and makes something of himself. No matter how old you get, Happy Gilmore is always great to watch.