After being fired from Saturday Night Live in 1995, comedian/writer/actor Adam Sandler began making feature films. Starting with Billy Madison, he next moved on to Happy Gilmore and then The Wedding Singer, and The Waterboy. Over the past thirty years, he has made a career out of playing immature, goofy characters that are often the underdog. He not only makes people laugh but also makes people root for him. His second film, Happy Gilmore, which had him playing the title role, became both a critical and box office success, not to mention a cult favorite among golfers. This month, the movie is being released on 4K for the first time thanks to Kino Lorber.
Happy Gilmore (Sandler) aspired to be a hockey player ever since he was a little boy. From an early age, he had a killer snapshot, but as he grew up, his lack of skating skill and his temper precluded him from becoming great. One day, Happy finds out his grandmother owes $270,000 in back taxes and has 90 days to come up with the money. Accidentally discovering his unusual snapshot swing can drive a golf ball 400 yards, Happy begins hustling at the driving range to raise money.
It is there he meets Chubbs (Carl Weathers; Predator), a former golfer who lost his hand in an alligator attack. Chubbs suggests that Happy enter the Waterbury Open, whose winner automatically gets a spot on the PGA tour and a large cash prize. After winning the tournament, Happy becomes a fan favorite on the PGA Tour due to his abrasive nature and, much to the dismay of the other golfers, especially Pro Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald; Thelma & Louise). Desperate to get the money for his grandmother's house, Happy makes a side bet with Shooter and puts everything on the line.
Kino Lorber is known for doing a good job transferring older films to 4K, and Happy Gilmore is no exception. The Dolby Vision, HDR10 video quality is terrific and showcases the new transfer beautifully. The lush greens of the golf courses are bright and detailed, and the color palette is varied and deep. Of course, the gold tournament jacket sparkles as the color bounces off the sunlight.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is decent as well. It highlights the eclectic soundtrack that includes everything from Carry On Wayward Son and Endless Love to Jump Around. The bass throbs and the orchestration soars. Meanwhile, the dialogue sits predominantly in the front speakers and sounds crisp and clean. However, one has to wonder why Kino Lorber didn't transfer the audio to Dolby Atmos.
The 4K pack includes both the 4K disc and the Blu-ray Disc, but doesn't have a digital download. There is only one new extra for this release, which is an exclusive audio commentary recorded by author and filmmaker Bryan Connolly and The Billy Gilmore Podcast host Wilson Smith. The other extras are taken from previous releases and include: Deleted Scenes (At Grandman's House, Waterbury Open, Happy on Tour, Nursing Home, Happy Land Mini-Golf, and League Champions), Outtakes, and the Trailer.
Happy Gilmore was certainly a success at the time of its release in 1996, and it has maintained a large group of loyal fans for almost 30 years. The story is cute, if somewhat unoriginal, and the jokes land for the most part. Of course, who could forget the epic fight between Happy and Bob Barker? It is truly an iconic moment in comedy movie history.
Fans will be happy (pun intended) that Kino Lorber chose this title for a 4K release, and there is no doubt that it won't last long, so grab one quickly or you may miss out.
Grade: B
