Jean Smart as Deborah Vance in Season 5 of ‘Hacks’. Photo: Courtesy of HBO Max.
Arriving on HBO Max on April 6 with the first episode (of 10) is the fifth and final season of ‘Hacks’, which returns us to the world of caustic, charismatic comedian Deborah Vance, as brought to award-winning life by Jean Smart.
(L to R) Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels and Jean Smart as Deborah Vance in Season 5 of ‘Hacks’. Photo: Courtesy of HBO Max.
Like coming up with the perfect punchline for a stand-up routine, ending a TV series is no easy task. For ‘Hacks’, which charts the unlikely mentorship between Deborah Vance, a long-established, wealthy comedian, and Ava Daniels, a struggling younger comedy writer.
As the show has gone on, we’ve seen every shade of the professional relationship and personal friendship between the pair, from being in sync to very much not. But as the story comes to a close, there are certainly plenty of last laughs to be had.
Script and Direction
(L to R) Megan Stalter as Kayla, Hannah Einbinder as Ava, Mark Indelicato as Damien, Jean Smart as Deborah and Paul W. Downs as Jimmy in Season 5 of ‘Hacks’. Photo: Courtesy of HBO Max.
Show creators Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky (with the trio also directing the majority of this season’s episodes) bring a particularly entertaining dynamic to the screen with the show –– Deborah and Ava’s partnership is always a weird one, and the stories work well.
The team has also delivered on the wider world of ‘Hacks’, including Deborah’s employees and the various characters they interact with. As to whether the show wraps up in satisfying fashion, I’d have to say a qualified yes. One big plot point towards the end feels a little rushed, but on the whole, the season works.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Kaitlin Olson as DJ and Jean Smart as Deborah in Season 5 of ‘Hacks’. Photo: Courtesy of HBO Max.
Smart and Einbinder have been well awarded for their work, and the Deborah/Ava side of things has certainly entered a friendlier aspect as the story winds down. Which isn’t to say anything is complacent –– there is certainly rich comedy to be found here.
Downs as Ava and Deborah’s endlessly stressed manager Jimmy goes on his own journey here, with Megan Stalter once again stealing scenes as sidekick Kayla. And among the recurring guest cast, special mention goes to Kaitlin Olson (as Deborah’s daughter DJ, who has her own hilarious episode with her mother) and Lauren Weedman, who is always memorable as the wacky Mayor of Vegas.
Final Thoughts
Lauren Weedman as Mayor Jo in Season 5 of ‘Hacks’. Photo: Courtesy of HBO Max.
The idea of Deborah on a mission and how Ava helps/hinders her might feel a little familiar, but the creative team has found a welcome, warm way to wind down the series, featuring grace notes for recurring characters and keeping you invested in the main story.
‘Hacks’ Season 5 receives 78 out of 100.
(L to R) Jean Smart as Deborah, Carl Clemons-Hopkins as Marcus, Rose Abdoo as Josefina and Mark Indelicato as Damien in Season 5 of ‘Hacks’. Photo: Courtesy of HBO Max.
What’s the plot of ‘Hacks’ Season 5?
In the aftermath of mistaken and unflattering news reports that she passed away, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) return to Las Vegas more determined than ever to secure Deborah’s legacy as a comedian.
Who stars in ‘Hacks’ Season 5?
Jean Smart as Deborah Vance
Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels
Carl Clemons-Hopkins as Marcus Vaughan
Megan Stalter as Kayla Schaefer
Paul W. Downs as Jimmy LuSaque Jr.
Mark Indelicato as Damien Asada Agosto
Kaitlin Olson as Deborah “DJ” Vance Jr.
Christopher McDonald as Marty Ghilain
(L to R) Jean Smart as Deborah, Poppy Liu as Kiki and Hannah Einbinder as Ava in Season 5 of ‘Hacks’. Photo: Courtesy of HBO Max.
(Left) Daisy Head stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca. (Right) Amethyst Davis stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Daisy Head and Amethyst Davis about their work on ‘The Gray House’, the true story it is based on, their characters’ relationship, working with Mary-Louise Parker, and collaborating on set with director Roland Joffé.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Head, Davis, and Keith David.
Daisy Head stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
Moviefone: To begin with, Daisy, can you talk about the alliance that Elizabeth and her mother make with Mary Jane and the incredible work they do together against all odds?
Daisy Head: It was a remarkable trio, a very tenacious group of women. Obviously, Mary Jane had suffered so much adversity and just had such an extraordinarily harrowing experience for any human to have endured. To be able to unite and rely on each other’s bravery, courage, and strength in their quest for freedom and to preserve American democracy was really humbling to experience as a human being and portraying that character in that role within that story. I was in awe of these three women and everything that they sacrificed. Being able to play against Mary-Louise and Amethyst in the scenes was just an absolute privilege, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.
MF: Amethyst, in the series your character explains that she has lost her faith in God and that it is rage that keeps her going. Can you talk about that and how her rage gave her an advantage against the Confederates?
Amethyst Davis: I think that’s a turning point of the whole series. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to when something traumatic and devastating happens, and you start to lose your faith a little bit and you get reunited with something else. But it’s something that the journey of feeling trauma and dealing with it and seeing it with your own eyes, with your own family can really give you ammo to get ready to do things that you never thought you would do.
Amethyst Davis stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
MF: Amethyst, as an actor and as a human being, what was it like to act out some of the horrible situations in this series? Did it feel real at times, and how did that help inform your performance?
AD: I think sometimes, but no, it didn’t feel real. The more prepared I was, the more removed from it I could be. There was one scene that was a real small scene, no lines, and I really didn’t prepare that much because I just thought, “Oh, it was going to be a quick scene.” It was not a quick scene. I was not prepared, so then therefore, I’m in it. It’s me in this scene, and now we’re traumatized. No, we weren’t traumatized. We shook it off and we were all a close cast, so we were able to help each other out and hang out with each other. So, we were able to shake that off.
MF: Daisy, can you talk about the relationship between Elizabeth and her mother and what it was like working with Mary-Louise Parker?
DH: I mean, Mary-Louise, testament to her, she is such a remarkably talented actor. To be able to have a relationship on screen, but develop it off-screen as well was a true joy because it I felt like we had our own chemistry and our own bond off-screen. I was able to, in scenes just feel very comfortable and safe in her company. She is an extraordinary talent, and I’m so fond of her as a human being. So, it really helped strengthen the narrative of the story, because there was an incredibly tight bond between us as people. Which just made it easier, and I was able to generate that kind of strength of relationship much faster than if it was someone else. So, it was a great privilege.
Mary-Louise Parker stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
MF: Daisy, what was it like working with director Roland Joffé and watching him execute his vision for this project?
DH: I mean, he’s just remarkable. He is so talented, and his eye and attention to detail is literally unparalleled. I just felt so honored to have the opportunity to work alongside him for such a long project and fully trust in his vision and concept. Because even in some scenes, I would be concerned about how something was being portrayed and about whether I needed to do it. He was just like, “No, trust me, in the bigger scheme of things, don’t worry too much about this little thing.” I put my full faith in him. I mean, the finished product, the work speaks for itself. He is an incredibly, extraordinarily talented human.
MF: Finally, Amethyst, what was your experience like working with Roland?
AD: I was just so surprised at how much he respected my voice and my opinion as being a newer actor. Anytime I had a suggestion or sometimes they would even ask me things. They never made me feel like, “Oh, you’re just an actor,” or “Oh, you’re just a new actor,” or anything like that. They were very respectful and open, and I know that doesn’t always happen.
Mary-Louise Parker stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
What is the plot of ‘The Gray House’?
Based on a true story, the series is about the secret work carried out by Union spies during the American Civil War.
The long-awaited sequel to 1996’s ‘Happy Gilmore’ entitled ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ which once again stars Adam Sandler as the pro hockey player turned PGA tour golfer, premieres July 25th on Netflix.
‘Happy Gilmore 2’, the long-awaited sequel to the classic 1996 Adam Sandler film is a funny and satisfying follow up for fans, although it does rely heavy on nostalgia for the original. Sandler successfully returns to one of his most iconic roles, and while the character has grown since the first film, he’s still as funny and unpredictable as ever.
Christopher McDonald also triumphantly returns as Happy’s rival, Shooter McGavin, and his onscreen chemistry with Sandler is one of the highlights of the movie. The story is strong and mostly works but takes a little time to get going and drags a bit in the third act, and when focusing too much on subplots that don’t affect the main story. But fans of the original or Sandler’s work in general will be very “Happy” with the new sequel for the most part.
The film begins by catching us up on Happy Gilmore’s (Adam Sandler) life since the original movie, and we learn that he went on to win the PGA tour, marry Virginia (Julie Bowen), have five children, and become a golf legend. But after Happy experiences a personal tragedy in his own life, he loses his grandmother’s house, turns to alcohol, quits golf forever, and must raise his children on his own.
Now, 30 years later, his four sons are all grown up (and have their father’s anger issues), and Happy is living with his teenage daughter Vienna (Sunny Sandler), who wants to go to an expensive dance school in Paris that he can’t afford. Gilmore is soon approached by a billionaire (Benny Safdie) who wants to start an extreme golfing league to rival the PGA and wants to recruit Happy. While Happy refuses, it does inspire him to return to professional golfing, but he soon finds that he is a bit rusty on the course.
Eventually, along with his new caddy Oscar (Bad Bunny), Happy joins a tournament between the PGA and the extreme golfing league, where the losing league will be disbanded forever. To make matters worse, while Happy is dealing with his own alcoholism and his new extreme golfing rival played by Haley Joel Osment, his old rival, Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald) returns from a long time away and wants his revenge. Now, Happy must fight his own demons, new rivals and old, and win the tournament to save golf and earn enough money to get his grandmother’s house back and send his daughter to dance school.
‘Happy Gilmore 2’ director Kyle Newacheck.
The script by Tim Herlihy and Sandler works exceedingly well, even though it relies heavily on nostalgia for the first movie. The script allows a lot of growth for the title character, while never losing the anger and intensity Happy had in the original. This is an older and slightly wiser version of the character, and it fits Sandler well. The rival extreme golf league plot was very clever, even if it loses its some of its steam towards the end, but the sub-plot featuring Ben Stiller didn’t work for me at all.
Kyle Newcheck who worked with Sandler on ‘Murder Mystery’ takes over director duties from Dennis Dugan, who still returns as Doug Thompson from the first movie. Newcheck does a very good job with the pacing, direction and style of the movie. While it does feel like a proper sequel, it also has a very modern vibe with great music that works well in 2025.
There are many great cameos and Easter eggs from the first movie, and they all work, even if Newcheck might go to the well one too many times. The director also gets very good performances out of non-actors like golfers John Daly and Rory McIlroy, Football player Travis Kelce, and sportscaster Stephen A. Smith, and even incorporates social media personalities like Alix Earle.
In recent years Adam Sandler has given some very good dramatic performances in films like ‘Uncut Gems’, ‘Hustle’, and ‘Spaceman’, but returns to comedic form in ‘Happy Gilmore 2’. In fact, I would go as far to say that Sandler’s dramatic work has made his comedic skills even stronger. Sandler is terrific as the older, down on his luck Happy, and is very believable in both the comedic and dramatic moments of the film.
But it wouldn’t be a “Happy Gilmore’ movie without Shooter McGavin played by the great Christopher McDonald. This is easily the actor’s signature role, and he is a force of nature in this sequel. He has fantastic chemistry with Sandler and seeing them together is one of the strongest elements of the film. I won’t say too much about his storyline, but it is very believable to the character from the first film and very funny.
Julie Bowen also returns as Happy’s now wife Virginia, and without revealing spoilers, I’ll just say that it’s unfortunate that the way the storyline unfolds that it does not give the actress more to do. Ben Stiller also returns as Hal L. and has a bigger role than in the first film. But his character is not my favorite, and I found his story arc to be unnecessary.
Joining the cast is musician Bad Bunny, who gives a shockingly funny performance as Happy’s new caddy Oscar and has a very relaxed and fun chemistry with Sandler. Actress Sunny Sandler, Adam’s daughter, also joins the cast as Happy’s daughter, Vienna, and gives a sweet and emotional performance.
Finally, I was very impressed with the performances from non-actors like golfer John Daly, who plays a version of himself living in Happy’s garage. There are also a few unforgettable cameos, which we won’t spoil here.
As far as legacy sequels go, especially with comedies, ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ is a very funny and compelling film. Adam Sandler brings energy, passion, emotion and a lot of humor to his character, and Christopher McDonald is fantastic as Shooter, and it’s a joy to see the two actors together again. While the movie does lean heavy on your nostalgia for the original, it still feels fresh and like a reunion with some old friends.
cwAaMR5c8AvqMLtn8UXf03
What’s the plot of ‘Happy Gilmore 2’?
Thirty years after winning his first Tour Championship, retired golfer Happy Gilmore returns to the sport to pay for his daughter Vienna’s ballet school.
Premiering July 25th on Netflix is the long-awaited sequel to 1996’s ‘Happy Gilmore’ entitled ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ which once again stars Adam Sandler as the pro hockey player turned PGA tour golfer.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Kyle Newacheck about his work on ‘Happy Gilmore 2’, his love for the original, collaborating on set with Adam Sandler, directing non-actors, working with Christopher McDonald, callbacks to the first film, and Sandler’s onscreen chemistry with Bad Bunny.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.
Moviefone: To begin with, are you a fan of the original ‘Happy Gilmore’ and what was it like to come in and direct the sequel?
Kyle Newacheck: That was truly surreal. So much that I would in my lunch breaks call my brother and be like, “Bro, is this real? Is this real? Is this happening?” He was the one who was like, “You got this. Yes, it’s real and you’re doing it.” Grounding element. There’s also an element of like, “Wow, me? Okay, let’s do it,” and so trust. Trust the instincts, trust the love, trust the skills, and get to work. Roll them up and get to work.
MF: This is the second time you’ve worked with Adam Sandler. What is your relationship like collaborating on set and do you have a shorthand together?
KN: Yeah, I think so. I think we can tell when either of us are maybe not feeling like the scene is up to its potential, and so we will try and pitch to figure out what we can do. I mean, I think we understand each other on a level and partly because I grew up on his movies. I know what he might have in his bag of tricks that he’s looking for, and I also know what he might have in his bag of tricks that we can mess with. I’m a huge fan of his work, and thankfully Adam Sandler is a hard worker. He will put in the work. I think I’m the same way. I work incredibly hard. I really put my whole self into a project, and I think we both have a similar style, where we put our whole selves into a project in the hopes that it will feel effortless. That’s hard to do, but we both try and do that.
MF: The film also features a lot of athletes and sportscasters playing themselves like John Daly and Stephen A. Smith. What is it like directing non-actors?
KN: I find it fun. I think it’s exhilarating. Most of the time they come to the table with just, they’re athletes, so they know what the moment is first. You know what I mean? They understand how to perform in the moment, and I connected those dots quickly where it was like, “Well, this guy, he knows what a moment is. He knows how to rise to the moment so basically just expecting that when we’re going to work. Then basically making the set as comfortable as possible for them so that they feel like they can own the moment I think is really the approach. Then helping them out on any little molecular issues that we might have as we get through it.
MF: Christopher McDonald returns in ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ as Shooter McGavin. What was it like directing him in his signature role?
KN: I mean, I knew Adam before so I could do that, but Shooter I didn’t know. So, when Shooter showed up, it was like, we’re really doing this. This is really happening. Chris McDonald is just a wonder. He’s a great performer. He always gives you something different and just a genuine good guy. He loves the character of Shooter, loves it. It’s not like one of the characters that he did back in the day. This is his character. He loves it, so he’s great. He’s great. It was awesome.
MF: The sequel has many callbacks to the original film, which one was your favorite and were there any cameos you tried to fit in but couldn’t?
KN: Well, I know that there’s not one that I wanted to get in that I wasn’t able to. I think we’re well-covered on that. One of the last ones that we did put in that I think was incredible was the alligators, calling back the alligators. That was a last add. As we were driving around the golf course, we were like, “We should do this,” and I think it worked well. I think it’s one of the funniest scenes in the movie.
MF: Finally, can you talk about working with Bad Bunny and his hilarious onscreen chemistry with Adam?
KN: Yeah, Benito was incredible. I think the first time I framed up a shot on him and his first lines with Adam it was truly undeniable their chemistry and what he was bringing to the character. That character is there on the page, and it has some depth, but I think that Benito put the depth in that character. I feel like he really rounded it out. Yeah, they were just fused. They were working well together, and it was so fun every time. Their interactions outside of the scenes were always pleasant and all that. Sometimes you just get a good pair, and they’re a good pair.
cwAaMR5c8AvqMLtn8UXf03
What’s the plot of ‘Happy Gilmore 2’?
Thirty years after winning his first Tour Championship, retired golfer Happy Gilmore returns to the sport to pay for his daughter Vienna’s ballet school.
Ben Stiller in ‘Zoolander’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Preview:
Ben Stiller is back for ‘Happy Gilmore 2.’
Adam Sandler co-wrote and is returning to star in the comedy sequel.
Travis Kelce and more are aboard the movie, which is shooting now.
After years of speculation, Adam Sandler is making good on his promise to return to the world of unexpected golf prodigy Happy Gilmore, as ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ has been shooting in New Jersey for a few weeks now.
cwAaMR5c8AvqMLtn8UXf03
And fans of the 1996 classic sports comedy will be happy to hear that one of the original players is coming back to –– if we had to guess, though no information has emerged beyond him being spotted on set –– cause trouble for our hero.
Ben Stiller, who played a nursing home orderly named Hal who exaggerates to Happy about the way his grandmother is treated at the facility (more on the plot below) where she’s forced to move, is returning for the new film.
Adam Sandler in ‘Happy Gilmore’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Happy Gilmore (Sandler) has long aspired to be a hockey player. Despite a powerful slapshot, Happy’s inability to skate and his volatile behavior excludes him from being accepted by any hockey team. Furthermore, Happy’s grandma is being evicted from her home after failing to pay her taxes.
After playing with some golf clubs and learning he can shoot golf balls far distances, he decides to join the PGA Tour in an effort to win money to buy back his grandmother’s home. Happy’s bad-boy image attracts a loyal following, but also attracts the attention of Shooter McGavin, the favorite to win the PGA Tour who is worried that Happy’s rise to stardom will undermine his shot to win.
(L to R) Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. Photo: Travis Kelce’s Instagram Account.
Alongside Stiller, some of the cast of the first movie are returning for this one, including Christopher McDonald as Shooter and Julie Bowen as Sandler’s character’s romantic interest, Virginia Venit.
Adam Sandler in ‘Happy Gilmore’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Kyle Newacheck is directing the sequel from a script by Sandler and his frequent collaborator Tim Herlihy.
Not much has been released about the story, but Sandler went on Kelce’s ‘New Heights’ podcast and revealed the following:
“The movie itself picks up from an older guy who played golf a long time. Some stuff goes on in his life, and he’s different. He’s a bit of a mess. And then we try to get his life cooking again.”
When will ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ be on screens?
Netflix is backing the new movie but has yet to announce a release date.
(L to R) Carl Weathers and Adam Sandler in ‘Happy Gilmore.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
(Left) Adam Sandler in ‘Happy Gilmore’. Photo: Universal Pictures. (Right) Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce. Photo: Travis Kelce’s Instagram Account.
Preview:
Adam Sandler says the ‘Happy Gilmore’ sequel starts filming soon.
NFL star Travis Kelce has a role, as does Sandler’s ‘Uncut Gems’ director Benny Safdie.
And Kelce has also signed on to a new action comedy.
We’ve known for a while that Adam Sandler has quietly been planning a sequel to one of his biggest hits, golf comedy ‘Happy Gilmore’.
Netflix is backing the new effort, and Sandler has now confirmed that it’ll start shooting soon and that the likes of Kansas City Chiefs tight end (and in wider pop cultural terms, Taylor Swift’s current beau) Travis Kelce and Benny Safdie, who directed Sandler in ‘Uncut Gems’ will both have roles.
cwAaMR5c8AvqMLtn8UXf03
What was the story of ‘Happy Gilmore’?
Adam Sandler in ‘Happy Gilmore’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Happy Gilmore (Sandler) has long aspired to be a hockey player. Despite a powerful slapshot, Happy’s inability to skate and his volatile behavior excludes him from being accepted by any hockey team. Furthermore, Happy’s grandma is being evicted from her home after failing to pay her taxes.
After playing with some golf clubs and learning he can shoot golf balls far distances, he decides to join the PGA Tour in an effort to win money to buy back his grandmother’s home. Happy’s bad-boy image attracts a loyal following, but also attracts the attention of Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald), the favorite to win the PGA Tour who is worried that Happy’s rise to stardom will undermine his shot to win.
Adam Sandler in ‘Happy Gilmore’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Appearing on ‘The Tonight Show’, Sandler talked up the schedule for the new movie:
“We’re going to do ‘Happy Gilmore.’ This is happening. We’re getting ready to shoot it in New Jersey. We start in a couple weeks. It’s good. We worked hard on the script. We didn’t want to let anybody down. People have been asking me for a long time. We’re really excited about it. We wrote our asses off. So many of the golfers are being nice and will be a part of it.”
And thanks to efforts from Kelce himself (a dedicated fan of the original) and fans of the player, he’ll have a role.
Here’s what Sandler said on that front:
“Travis… he mentioned it, so we have a nice something for Travis. He’s gonna come by. He’s a very nice guy. You guys would love him in real life. What a big, handsome guy. Funny and cool as hell. He’s a stud and he’s so funny.”
As for Safdie, who has been known for a dual career directing movies alongside brother Josh (though they’re both currently focused on solo projects) and acting, he’ll also crop up, with Sandler telling Indiewire that he’ll “have a juicy part” in the movie.
Where else will we see Travis Kelce?
(L to R) Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. Photo: Travis Kelce’s Instagram Account.
Kelce has been busy trying to spin his NFL and Swift-adjacent celebrity into a showbiz career, even as he continues to see success on the field (his Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl this year).
Now he’s expanding into acting roles. He has one in the can already, ‘Grotesquerie,’ the new horror drama from Ryan Murphy, which premieres on FX on September 25th.
The show focuses on a series of heinous crimes that have unsettled a small community and Detective Lois Tryon (Niecy Nash-Betts), who feels these crimes are eerily personal, as if someone — or something — is taunting her.
Kelce’s role in that is as yet unknown.
But he’s also now looking to take a leading role, snagging the star part in a new action comedy that has some solid backing, according to reporter Jeff Sneider.
‘Loose Cannons’ is the latest production from ‘John Wick’ overseer Chad Stahelski. While he isn’t likely to direct it, the fact that his 87Eleven company is involved means the set pieces should at least be inventive and impressive.
And there’s also a Sandler connection to this one too, albeit a loose one: Timothy Dowling, who has worked with the comedy star on several movies, wrote the ‘Loose Canons’ script, which is being kept under wraps for now.
But if we were to shove our speculation hat on, that title could refer to wayward guns gone missing, or possibly an out-of-control law enforcement officer.
Whatever the story, it’s in development at Lionsgate, but will likely have to cool its heels until Kelce’s schedule opens back up; an expanded cameo in a Sandler film is one thing –– the Kansas City Chiefs are kicking off the 2024 NFL regular season on September 5th.
Adam Sandler in ‘Happy Gilmore’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Adam Sandler in ‘Happy Gilmore.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
Preview:
Adam Sandler will return as Happy Gilmore.
Netflix is backing the sequel.
We’ll have to wait for other details.
1996 sports comedy ‘Happy Gilmore’ is such a key part of Adam Sandler’s career that it makes up part of his Happy Madison production company logo.
It makes sense then, that, as part of its deal with the comedy star, Netflix has officially ordered a sequel to the movie.
cwAaMR5c8AvqMLtn8UXf03
What was the story of ‘Happy Gilmore’?
Adam Sandler in ‘Happy Gilmore.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
Happy Gilmore (Sandler) has long aspired to be a hockey player. Despite a powerful slapshot, Happy’s inability to skate and his volatile behavior excludes him from being accepted by any hockey team. Furthermore, Happy’s grandma is being evicted from her home after failing to pay her taxes.
After playing with some golf clubs and learning he can shoot golf balls far distances, he decides to join the PGA Tour in an effort to win money to buy back his grandmother’s home. Happy’s bad-boy image attracts a loyal following, but also attracts the attention of Shooter McGavin, the favorite to win the PGA Tour who is worried that Happy’s rise to stardom will undermine his shot to win.
(L to R) Carl Weathers and Adam Sandler in ‘Happy Gilmore.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
While there have been rumors about a follow-up to ‘Happy Gilmore’ for years, more notable news arrived recently from Christopher McDonald, who famously played Shooter in the original.
Here’s what he told the team on Audacy’s 92.3 ‘The Fan’ radio show:
“I saw Adam [Sandler] about two weeks ago, and he says to me, ‘McDonald, you’re gonna love this,’ I said, ‘What?’ He says, ‘How about that,’ and he shows me the first draft of ‘Happy Gilmore 2.’ Maybe you should cut that out [of this audio] because I don’t wanna be a liar, but he did show me that, and I thought, ‘Well, that would be awesome.’ So, it’s in the works. Fans demand it, dammit!”
Fans did indeed demand it, and now it’s happening.
But there will have to be some significant changes to the cast line-up since some of the original actors have since died.
Here’s what Sandler said about paying tribute to those we have lost since 1996:
“I would love [‘The Price is Right’ host] Drew Carey to be in this movie out of respect to Bob [Barker]. When we were writing stuff, Bob was alive. When we were writing stuff, Carl Weathers was alive. When we were writing stuff, Joe Flaherty was alive. It sucks, we love those guys. They were such a big part of the movie and just great people. But we’re going to get them involved somehow. They’ll be involved.”
There are no other details to report about the movie, beyond Netflix making it official.
When will ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ be on screens?
Netflix has yet to announce a release date for the film.
(L to R) Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart in ‘Hacks’ Season 3. Photograph: Beth Dubber/Max.
Debuting on HBO and Max with the first two episodes of its third season on May 2nd, ‘Hacks’ returns to our screens with more outrageousness from Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance and more conflicted, panicky support from Hannah Einbinder’s Ava.
While Smart continues to be the focus, Einbinder still proves she’s right there with her on the acting side of things, while the wider ensemble also brings fun elements to the story.
Jean Smart in ‘Hacks’ Season 3. Photograph: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Max.
If you were worried that ‘Hacks’ might be going off the boil in this third season, the new run of episodes (we’ve seen the whole season) proves that the creative team and cast still has what it takes to deliver consistent comedy.
Though one or two storylines might be getting a little more tired at this point, the vast majority of the narrative is still great, with Smart in particular able to deliver the killer lines she’s handed with all the attitude she has brought previously. Deborah Vance remains a fascinating creation –– ferociously funny, but also overbearing and, at times, monstrous. This season, the story explores more of her human side and vulnerability.
Hannah Einbinder’s Ava, meanwhile, continues to walk the line between sympathetic and annoying, her rekindled relationship with her ex-girlfriend a combination of grounded and frustrating.
‘Hacks’ Season 3: Script and Direction
(L to R) Jean Smart, Megan Stalter, and Paul W. Downs in ‘Hacks’ Season 3. Photograph: Jake Giles Netter/Max.
Created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs (who also appears on screen as Deborah’s embattled manager trying to start his own company) and Jen Statsky, ‘Hacks’ third season maintains the quality level we’ve come to expect from this series, carefully basing its comedy on human reactions while also continuing a solid line in prodding at celebrity excess.
This year’s major throughline includes a brand new potential opportunity for Deborah (one that we won’t spoil here), which allows her to show that even at her level, there are some things even she must truly fight for, especially as a female performer.
There are also some fun moments featuring yet more chaos from her daughter, DJ (Kaitlin Olson), who has her own revelation to drop on her mother, another fertile source for both comedy and drama. As with other storylines, this is powered not just by finding what will make you laugh, but also what will make you feel for these people.
The direction from the likes of Aniello, Downs and Michelle Ouellet continues to be perfectly fine –– unshowy and naturalistic, letting the script and the performances do the heavy lifting.
‘Hacks’ Season 3: Performances
(L to R) Megan Stalter, Paul W. Downs, Jean Smart, Mark Indelicato and Carl Clemons-Hopkins in ‘Hacks’ Season 3. Photograph: Eddy Chen/Max.
You can almost always rely on Jean Smart when she’s given the right sort of material, and Deborah really is a gift to the actress, who deploys nuclear level sarcasm when the moment calls for it, is completely believable as a comedian with a long career behind her (and the chops to power it) and, despite outrageous privilege thanks to her wealth, a hard working person with her own neuroses and issues to deal with. She might have houses in Vegas, LA and elsewhere, and fly where she needs to go via private jet, but she’s also filled with concern about how she hasn’t done right by members of her family.
And as Ava, Einbinder continues to be a human bag of nervy energy, worried about how her life is shaping up and, in the early going, seemingly happy to be out of Deborah’s circle. Their legal issues last season would seem to mean that she’s able to move on, but ‘Hacks’ wouldn’t really be ‘Hacks’ without their dynamic at its heart, so of course she’s back working for her before too long. And thank goodness, as the Ava storyline outside of Deborah, while it has some fun moments, is nowhere near as satisfying.
Hannah Einbinder in ‘Hacks’ Season 3. Photograph: Eddy Chen/Max.
Around the main pair orbits their various friends, family, colleagues and hangers-on. Prime among them is Downs’ Jimmy, aided (sometimes) by show breakout Megan Stalter as Kayla, the world’s worst assistant –– now his partner in his new company. While a little of Kayla goes a long way, the writers’ know when to deploy her. And Downs continues to bring Jimmy to life as a constantly frustrated nebbish.
We would also be remiss if we didn’t shout out ‘Succession’ veteran J. Smith Cameron, who here plays Deborah’s long-estranged sister, a character a world away from Gerri Kellman. She’s superb in the role, twitchy and odd, but with clear regret towards what she did to Deborah.
‘Hacks’ Season 3: Final Thoughts
(L to R) Carl Clemons-Hopkins and Jean Smart in ‘Hacks’ Season 3. Photograph: Beth DubberMax.
‘Hacks’ is back, and that can only be a good thing. Though not everything continues to work as it once did, there is still much to recommend it, even without the Smart factor. It might not push the boundaries in terms of tone and character, but it’s not trying to be something along the lines of ‘Baby Reindeer’.
Taken on its own terms, and thanks to its primary performances, ‘Hacks’ is still one of the best traditional comedies on TV.
‘Hacks Season 3’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.
AulZezx8OrKuKzuMPlPnE3
What’s the story of ‘Hacks’ Season 3?
A year after parting, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) is riding high off the success of her standup special while Ava (Hannah Einbinder) pursues new opportunities back in Los Angeles.
But as Deborah pursues a new opportunity and Ava returns to her orbit, how will their strained relationship affect their lives?
Plotting with all the tactics of a military campaign, the Marvel team has been drip-feeding information about its upcoming Disney+ series ‘Secret Invasion’, which sees the full return of Samuel L. Jackson’s eyepatch-sporting (though not always here, more on that below) tough nut and former S.H.I.E.L.D. boss.
The new series catches us up with not only Fury but also the Skrull aliens we met in ‘Captain Marvel’, primarily led by Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos.
Originally believed to be a threat, they were actually revealed as refugees from a catastrophic war with the more dangerous race known as the Kree (for whom Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers initially fought before realizing their less friendly nature and helping Fury fight them alongside Talos).
Yet decades later, the Skrulls haven’t received what humanity promised –– access to a new homeworld of their own and real help –– so there is now a faction dedicated to taking what they’re owed, but duplicity or force.
Led by Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir), the group uses their shape-changing powers to wreak havoc. And among their number is someone close to Talos (spoiler alert: it’s his daughter, G’iah, played by ‘Game of Thrones’ veteran Emilia Clarke.)
To combat this threat, Fury turns not to his Avengers-level super-friends (the trailer makes a point of that, so perhaps the series will explain his thinking) but to some more down-to-Earth associates, including Talos, loyal lieutenant Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) and Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman).
And sitting squarely in between the two sides of the conflict we have Olivia Colman’s character, Special Agent Sonya Falsworth, a high-ranking member of Britain’s intelligence service MI6 (think the real-world organization that employs James Bond in a whole other fictional universe). She’s apparently been both friend and foe to Nick Fury in the past.
Casting-wise, we’ll also see Carmen Ejogo, Christopher McDonald, and Marvel veteran Don Cheadle, back as James Rhodes, here in more of a political capability than his usual War Machine style (though we’d be shocked if he didn’t suit up at some point).
Oh, and talking of a changed style, Fury also has an altered look at times –– he’s not always wearing his trademark eyepatch, which covers a damaged eye.
“He just doesn’t wear the patch. The patch is part of who the strong Nick Fury was. It’s part of his vulnerability now. You can look at it and see he’s not this perfectly indestructible person. He doesn’t feel like that guy.”
The series promises to be more of a global political spy thriller, albeit with the alien overtones and of course healthy dollops of MCU lore. But it’ll be a personal mission for Fury, who has been off-planet since the events of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ and realizes that he’s been out of touch in more ways than one. And kicking some scheming alien butt might just be his way to make contact again.
Here’s what executive producer executive producer Jonathan Schwartz says about Fury:
“Sins from his past start to haunt him once again. We often see Nick Fury doing the right thing. We don’t always see him doing it in a perfectly morally correct way. All of those things have ramifications. Without getting too specific, the things that Nick Fury’s had to do to protect the Earth have costs.”
And here’s more from Jackson:
“Nick had a whole Skrull spy network because they could shape-shift and go places that people couldn’t go. They kept their word. They worked for him, but he hasn’t done what he said he was going to do. They want a home. They want to live. They want to live like they are. They want to live in their skin. They don’t want to live in ours.”
‘Secret Invasion’ kicks off on Disney+ on June 21st.
Marvel Studios’ ‘Secret Invasion.’
In other Marvel news, there has been another change behind the scenes on the movie front.
While Kaplan and Springer are more known for comedy writing, Josh Friedman has some big sci-fi bona fides.
z9uHs9M5vfCiKZCJCNg4I6
What has Josh Friedman worked on?
Most recently, Friedman was part of James Cameron’s writing team for the ‘Avatar’ sequels (he has a story credit on ‘The Way of Water’). He’s also worked on the script for next year’s ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’.
Also on the small screen, he’s run or been part of the development for ‘Foundation’ and ‘Snowpiercer’.
Whether this means a complete re-write or beefing up the sci-fi side of things remains to be seen, but ‘Fantastic Four’ is still currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on February 14th, 2025.
