Dennis Dugan directs Adam Sandler, Christopher McDonald and Carl Weathers in this sports comedy where an inept hockey player turns golfer to save his Grandma’s house.

Yes, the auteur dramas. And yeah, of course, the romcoms. But Happy Gilmore is THE indisputable finest of Sandler’s angry / dumb / sporty ones. McDonald’s Shooter is an all-timer comedy villain. So schmucky. Ben Stiller probably does his best work in an evil smaller role. This follows the underdog sports comedy formula to a tee, relishing it rather than subverting it. Most importantly it makes me laugh a ton. “I am good. You know what, you’re a lousy kindergarten teacher. I’ve seen those finger-paintings you bring home and they suck.”

9

Perfect Double Bill: Big Daddy (1999)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/ and my own Substack https://substack.com/@edinburghlaughterbulletin