It’s been almost three decades since Adam Sandler first graced the silver screen as downtrodden hockey player turned beloved golfer Happy Gilmore. But now he’s back, and he has a whole host of famous faces with him.
Sandler returned to his happy place Friday when Happy Gilmore 2, the long-awaited sequel to his 1996 cult comedy classic, finally teed off on Netflix.
Modern Family star Julie Bowen reprises her role as Gilmore’s love interest, Virginia, while Flubber actor Christopher McDonald and Hollywood star Ben Stiller also return.
But this time around, Sandler hits the golf course with a glittering array of stars also along for the ride.
Super Bowl winner Travis Kelce, musician Bad Bunny, rapper Eminem and a decorated roster of professional golfers, including World No 1 Scottie Scheffler and Masters champion Rory McIlroy, all make cameos next to Hollywood royalty.
And sitting down with the Daily Mail to discuss the film at the luxury Montclair Golf Club in New Jersey – a key filming location in the film – producer Jack Giarraputo reveals it wasn’t tough to lure the famous faces to set. Not even Taylor Swift’s boyfriend.
Adam Sandler reprised his role as Happy Gilmore in long-awaited sequel to the 1996 classic
From left, Collin Morikawa, US Bank CMO Michael Lacorazza, Happy Gilmore 2 producer Jack Giarraputo and Frank Coraci, director of the ‘Happy As Usual’ creative campaign, spoke to the Daily Mail
‘Different cameos came in different ways,’ Giarraputo reveals.
‘With Travis, he was wearing the hat around and saying, “I heard there’s a sequel, I want to be in it!” So that was helpful,’ he continues.
‘Adam saw Bad Bunny on SNL and thought, “He’s funny, we should put him in the movie.”
‘We wanted to create an authentic golf environment, so we went after all the top players and because they grew up with the movie, they were like, “let’s do it”. So, it was a mutual feeling with the golfers.’
Giarraputo admits he was pleasantly surprised by the acting skills of Kelce and Bad Bunny. ‘It was all mutual love and respect. It’s really funny to see that people are good at other things,’ he adds.
The PGA Tour’s current biggest stars grew up with the original, which made for a cultural revolution in golf. The stereotypically uptight and stuffy sport was inundated with iconic quotes and memorable – if not, goofy – moments.
It is, therefore, no surprise that an appearance in the sequel held a certain allure for the latest generation of golfers, including two-time major winner Collin Morikawa.
Morikawa, who in addition to his cameo also stars in US Bank’s TV spot collaboration with Happy Gilmore 2, is used to high-pressure situations with an Open Championship and PGA Championship to his name and multiple Ryder Cups for Team USA under his belt.
But that calm and collected demeanor doesn’t necessarily translate when those sloping fairways transform into a film set.
Travis Kelce (pictured) leads the host of famous faces who make cameos in Happy Gilmore 2
Musician Bad Bunny is pictured with Adam Sandler at the movie premiere this week
Two-time major winner Morikawa (right) and wife Kat Zhu (left) attended the premier in New York City
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‘I was nervous but it was exciting,’ the Ryder Cup star tells the Daily Mail. ‘More emotions than us playing on the golf course. We’re so used to doing what we do. It’s so routine when I’m on the golf course that I know what’s going to happen.
‘But in the production world, you don’t necessarily know what’s going to happen. Things pop up very spontaneously, ideas come and things change very quickly. I love how they just adapt. That’s what I respect about these guys so much.’
While he may vie week in and week out to best his rivals on the PGA Tour, the 28-year-old confesses he won’t be taking home the Best Actor award among his peers.
‘I am not the best,’ he admits, laughing. ‘I didn’t get to spend time with Scottie [Scheffler], Bryson [DeChambeau], Rory [McIlroy], Brooks [Koepka] and that group. But I did spend a lot of time with Jordan [Spieth], Rickie [Fowler], Xander [Schauffele] and the Hall of Famers.’
When pressed on who did shine the most on screen, Morikawa discloses that Spieth or Schauffele impressed him the most.
‘This is not comfortable for us at all to sit down and have lines and be ready on the spot,’ he continues. ‘I know we have multiple takes but we don’t want to get it wrong because we know we’re just here hopefully adding to the film.
‘I’ll give it to the old guys – Freddie [Couples], Jack [Nicklaus] – that’s definitely not their scene and I think they did a great job.’
Morikawa further broke the stern golfing mold with his hilarious delivery in the film’s accompanying ad in collaboration with US Bank, the official sponsor of the fictional tour in the movie.
Paige Spiranac pictured in a see-through dress at the premiere of Happy Gilmore 2 on Monday
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler (left) and golf cult icon John Daly (right) are also tipped for cameos
The commercial, which was shot by Frank Coraci, one of Sandler’s go-to directors, sees Morikawa ride a club like a bull – a signature Gilmore celebration – something which surely does not come natural to a professional golfer.
‘It’s creating an environment on the set that’s relaxed,’ Coraci reveals when asked how he manages to get sports stars to let loose in front of the camera. ‘It’s being present for them and generally just watching what they’re doing and laughing.
‘The nice thing is that we [Happy Madison] have a track record of making pretty funny movies so I think it was easy from the trust aspect. Yes, he’s going out on a limb but it’s going to be worthwhile.’
As well as a host of new faces, Happy Gilmore 2 has had to navigate a slew of new storylines that have overtaken the sport in recent years – most noticeably the revolutionary play of big hitters like DeChambeau and the emergence of LIV Golf, the PGA Tour’s Saudi-backed rival circuit.
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‘It definitely was a big thing in the original movie that Happy Gilmore could hit the ball 400 yards,’ Giarraputo explains. ‘Now, it’s not normal, but you do see it. So that was definitely a big change we had to figure out.
‘And also with the new competing league idea, that was something we had to take into consideration. But all in all, we just wanted to find a good story that people who love the first movie could really enjoy this one.’
And it’s a movie Morikawa believes not only golf fans will enjoy.
‘It’s going to be huge,’ the golfer gushes. ‘I think this is going to bridge a lot of gaps between generations and even those that aren’t into golf. Happy Gilmore bridges that gap into golf for people who don’t know the sport. It’s going to uplift our sport even more.’