Banking on nostalgia does not always serve refreshing comedy when it comes to a second attempt at reviving a cult classic, which has a diehard fan following. Returning to the green after three decades, Adam Sandler's golfer, Happy Gilmore, attempted to take on an ambitious journey rife with fun and well-timed jokes; however, an overpowering flood of cameos might have diluted Happy Gilmore 2's overall performance. Fans remain disappointed as the nostalgia backfires for Netflix's latest big release.

Most viewers found the writing "sloppy and lazy", as Happy's wife, Virginia Venit (played by Julie Bowen), gets unnecessarily killed off in the first few minutes. A large chunk of the vocal fans are not laughing after watching the film within hours of its release. Taking to X, fans of the original drew critical comparisons between the two, iterating how underwhelming Happy Gilmore 2 was, even going as far as calling it "obnoxious." Some viewers were thrown off by Sandler's performance not being up to his own standard set by the first film.

For those who have not watched Happy Gilmore 2 yet, Sandler's unorthodox pro golfer is now a single dad of four sons and a daughter, about to take retirement from the game, following the death of his wife in the movie. Released on Netflix on July 25, the sequel tracks Happy's life after winning and saving his grandmother's house in the first film. However, fans had greater expectations from it. 

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Early reception of Happy Gilmore 2 revealed unexpected backlash as fans quickly began dissecting its recycled jokes, overwhelming cameos, and nostalgia overkill. 

Most fans are of the opinion that the sequel is too dependent on callbacks, alleging that it cares more about spectacle than about storytelling. One viewer complained on X that the film unnecessarily cut out hilarious golf scenes, as well as a Nikki Bella cameo. More viewers were let down by the film due to its lack of true comedy, storyline, and good acting. The first half of the movie also failed to grab the attention of the majority of the audience, who hit play trusting the quality of the original. 

In between disappointment, there are only a very few original fans who still stand up for the sequel. However, the consensus has shifted towards more scathing remarks, such as the film being the prime example of why sequels are unnecessary for certain classics, as they should be left untouched. Netflix, however, has announced the withdrawal of the original from the platform soon.

Despite having a generous budget for Happy Gilmore 2 with several funny skits and celebrity cameos like Eminem, Kid Cudi, Travis Kelce, Bad Bunny, Post Malone, and more, Adam Sandler's long-awaited sequel could not equal the cult classic. Audiences remained let down by rehashed one-liners and a cluttered plot while waiting for the jokes to kick in.

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Have you watched Happy Gilmore 2 yet? Share your opinions on the sequel in the comments below.