Let’s be real: we all grew up shouting "The price is wrong, b—!" at the TV. It's been nearly thirty years since Adam Sandler first stepped onto a green in a Bruins jersey, and honestly, the nostalgia is hitting harder than a Happy Gilmore slapshot. But now that Happy Gilmore 2 has officially teed off on Netflix (releasing July 25, 2025), a lot of us aren't just fans anymore—we're parents.
You’re probably wondering if you can sit the kids down for this one or if it’s better saved for after they’ve gone to bed. The original was a chaotic mess of slapstick and swearing, and let’s just say the sequel doesn't exactly pivot into G-rated territory.
The Happy Gilmore 2 Parents Guide: What’s the Vibe?
The movie is rated PG-13, and it earns every bit of that rating. If you’ve seen a Happy Madison production in the last decade, you know the drill. It’s crude, it’s loud, and it’s unapologetically Sandler.
Essentially, the story follows an older, slightly broken-down Happy. He’s grieving the loss of his wife, Virginia Venit (who tragically passed away in a freak golf accident years prior), and he’s struggling with sobriety. He’s trying to get back on the tour to pay for his daughter Vienna's ballet school in Paris. It’s got more heart than the first one, but the "Sandler-isms" are turned up to eleven.
Language: Cover Their Ears
Honestly, the swearing is probably the biggest hurdle for parents of younger kids. We’re talking over 50 expletives. The "S-word" gets a massive workout—appearing nearly 25 times—and there’s a sprinkling of "A—," "D—n," and even a partially bleeped F-bomb. If your kid repeats everything they hear, you’re going to have a very awkward parent-teacher conference on Monday.
Violence: Slapstick with a Side of Ouch
It wouldn't be Happy Gilmore without someone getting punched in the face.
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- Fistfights: Happy and his sons (who are chips off the old block) get into multiple brawls.
- The Alligator Factor: Those pesky reptiles are back. There’s a scene where a character is eaten alive—it’s played for laughs and isn't gory, but it’s definitely "dark" comedy.
- Golf Ball Mayhem: People get beaned in the head with golf balls constantly.
- The Coffee Incident: An old nemesis gets hot coffee thrown in his face, leading to permanent scarring and an eyepatch. It’s classic slapstick, but it’s meaner than a cartoon.
Sexual Content and "The Happy Place"
Happy still goes to his "happy place," and it hasn't changed much. He envisions a younger version of his late wife in lingerie. There’s also a recurring gag involving rear nudity. Happy’s adult sons "moon" him (and the camera) multiple times. There’s also a scene involving a man who is completely naked, though he’s strategically covered by a stack of pancakes.
You’ll hear plenty of jokes about genitalia, "that's what she said" references, and even a gag where characters use inanimate objects to imitate... well, you get the idea.
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Heavy Themes: It’s Not All Goofing Around
Surprisingly, the sequel deals with some heavy stuff. Happy is portrayed as a recovering alcoholic. We see him inebriated, stumbling around, and hiding booze in household objects. He even has a relapse.
However, there is a silver lining here. The movie leans heavily into redemption and family. Happy’s kids are his biggest supporters, and his journey toward sobriety and being a better father is actually quite touching. He attends support meetings (led by Ben Stiller’s Hal L., which is a wild choice) and really tries to make amends. It’s a "strong moral worldview" wrapped in a very messy, R-rated-lite package.
Celebrity Cameos and Nostalgia
The movie is a revolving door of famous faces. You’ve got:
- Sports Legends: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Travis Kelce (who plays a waiter).
- Comedy Icons: Ben Stiller is back as the sadistic Hal, and Christopher McDonald is as glorious as ever as a recently paroled Shooter McGavin.
- The New Guard: Bad Bunny and Benny Safdie bring some modern energy to the mix.
Is It Okay for Your Kids?
Every family is different, but here’s the breakdown:
- Under 10: Probably a skip. The humor is too crude, and the drinking/grief themes might fly over their heads or just be depressing.
- 10 to 12: Use caution. If they’ve seen the first one and you were okay with it, this is more of the same, just slightly "more."
- 13 and Up: This is the target. They’ll get the jokes, and the emotional beats about sobriety and loss might actually resonate.
The verdict? It’s a "nostalgia-fest" that doesn't try to be anything other than a Happy Madison movie. If you’re okay with your teens hearing some salty language and seeing a few bare butts for the sake of a laugh, it’s a fun Friday night watch.
Next Steps for Parents:
Before you hit play, check the "Content Settings" on your Netflix profile if you want to restrict the rating. If you decide to watch it with the kids, use the scenes where Happy struggles with his temper or his drinking as a jumping-off point to talk about how he handles his mistakes. And maybe remind them that throwing a golf club is a great way to get kicked off a real course!