Movie Review: The Bad Guys 2

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony, and welcome back to my Movie Review.

Back in 2022, I’ve covered The Bad Guys, which its a pretty fun movie, but its not as greater with numerous flaws from clichés and an un-perfect writing. But at least it has a pretty good animation that they’ve been inspired from Sony’s Spider-Verse and even some memorable characters. However, we usually stick to “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” at the same year, making The Bad Guys acted like an appetizer. But of course, the movie became a cult follow to the fans of this movie and maybe even some loyalist from Aaron Blabey’s book, even though for the latter, the book series is finished last year. But that doesn’t mean its over, Dreamworks were still open minded to giving us the sequel in today’s review.

“The Bad Guys 2” is a 2025 heist action comedy film that was directed by Pierre Perifel, produced by Damon Ross and written by Yoni Brenner and Etan Cohen.

The idea of this sequel came from Perifel himself, which a month before the release of the first film “The Bad Guys”, he said that he would like to make a sequel if its a success. But of course, when it came out, it was a success with not just well-received, it made a lot of money then the budget ($69M-80M) with earning quarter of billion dollars ($250M), pretty impressive for low budget film. So, Dreamworks are now announced to make a sequel with almost everyone came back to writing, producing and directing, along with a new writer, Yoni Brenner, joined in. Though there’s not much details what they’ve been saying in the original concept on this sequel, aside of borrow some elements from the books, but that’s just my guess, cause I don’t own Blabey’s books.

So, with that out of the way, will The Bad Guys are doing good in their “Good” duty, or is being good is a complete opposite when they used to?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

For movie about the welcome return to our familiar robbers, we would like to see them going a new journey from either going for another heist or turn themselves around? Well… Yes and no.

The movie begins with a BANG where we meet our familiar robbers… Well, “The Bad Guys” arrived to steal to reunited their precious black car from 5 years ago. But alas, much like we’ve been dealing with, their glory days are left behind, as they’re trying to connect to the society by looking for new jobs, but as we all know, it will be impossible to be hired based on their criminal records, while Mr. Snake is away for… Something. But little did they know, they figured “Why not become a vigilantes for the cops?”, which after Mr. Wolf and Diana Foxington (aka Crimson Paws) had a bond together, but remaining friendship, cause she’s on her duty of government, The Bad Guys found a new piece of evidence about a new crimes called “The Phantom Bandits” are out there in order to impress Commissioner Misty Luggins, which, according to the unknown crime group, they’re trying to stealing “MacGuffinite” for their ultimate heist, even if the Phantom Bandits are using distraction to get along. Its up to The Bad Guys are in struggling choice for either clearing their names or going for the ultimate heist.

Yeah, while il give a credit for a new story about trying to turning themselves around to the society, even if its a challenging acceptance to connect to the society based on their criminal records and even their unlikely meeting with Phantom Bandits to either set up trap or get along with them, making the story feels like a mess from the get-go, while its sort of better than the first one, but again, the execution didn’t mesh well on clichés and even the plot twist. Yeah, it feels like they’re doing the same for the latter, but you don’t want to know for the sake of SPOILERS. And I guess its no wonder why the writing is more focus on action and the humors, il give credit for the concept, but its more lenient to the comedy, which I will admit, it does have some chuckling moments, but its just that its probably not has perfectly funnier as the first one.

The writing is good at best about the heist setup, some fast-paste moment (even though it can be good, but others… Not) and some chuckling jokes, but the story didn’t go that well what we’ve hoped for, it has nice concept, yes, but, in a poorly executions from clichés and plot twist.

The Animation

The movie’s budget costed $80M, which the same as before, but slightly more compared to the first tone, which while it looks good, but it can be a bit downgrade, but in fairness, it looks pretty good as always, and its quite possibly the craziest one of all.

For starter, the background design are actually look pretty good and beautiful, ranging from beige and bright in Cairo, Egypt, to somewhat colorful in the city in USA, the night time with colorful Lucha Libre arena and of course, the climax in Space Station, they did a pretty nice and beautiful work how they represented, especially with the lighting whether be bright when they’re in crime from their glory days to somber that they’re no longer the same when they used to, I know its kind of cheesy, but pretty good work for the background, the cinematography and the lighting.

As for the designs, its not stranger that they’re bringing back our old friends with some upgrade, sure The Bad Guys, Diana and Commissioner Misty look the same, but again, its nice to see them again with some upgrade. Although some new characters’ designs are actually pretty nice to fit in, while some like humans are looking similar to Disney from the infamous “Bean Face”. Yeah yeah yeah, go ahead, laugh at me all you want just because I think “CalArts style” are not bad, but its the execution for the remaining designs whether they look good or not.

As for the animation process, like I said in my review of The Wild Robot, Dreamworks are no longer working in their house, instead, they’re working with the outsiders for helping hand, this time its Sony Pictures Imageworks. And I gotta say, the animation looks pretty nice, but for some reason, it feels like a slight downgrade. Sure, it has some 2D effect from some in action scenes and some for the characters, its just that it feels like more like 3D with less 2D or comic filter like Sony’s Spider-Verse, making it feel like 85% 3D and 15% 2D. I know it sounds odd from my view, its just that when we compare between the first and second, we can probably notice some difference. But don’t get me wrong, it still looks good, with slightly up and down. But then there’s the action scenes, but Ohhh boy, those action scenes are in a WHOLE LEVEL to add the chaos from The Bad Guys’ flashback in Cairo with ridiculous ways to avoiding cops or even the escape from Lucha Libre which has a crowd turning into a tidal wave while trying to arresting our main baddies. And there’s the Space Station for the climax, pretty impressive too, but again, won’t give a SPOILER details.

While some have flaws, but the animation looks pretty good from the design, the presentation of quality and even the craziness of action scenes.

The Characters

With the return of our familiar characters from three years ago, along with new baddies on the loose, we expecting to having a new an improved character development that make them likable as before? Well… Yes and no.

Lets start off with our old friend Mr. Wolf (reprised by Sam Rockwell), the leader of The Bad Guys for being charming, witty and skilled pick-pocketing on his way. In this movie, after his glory days of robberies, Wolf is trying to bring his group to turn things around to becoming good than living in crimes, especially he wants to be in chemistry with Diana Foxington, despite they’re going to be in friend-zone for many reasons. I find his upgrade is fairly decent, though his personality remains the same, but its the execution of his character development that he’s trying to turning himself and his group around to connect to the society, but didn’t go that well once he sees The Phantom Bandits. Its a nice upgrade he has, and Rockwell’s voice performance is a welcome return that he still did a fun work of his role.

Next we have Mr. Snake (reprised by Marc Maron), the sarcastic second-in-command of the group and the safecracker of the group. Unlike the previous film, he’s surprisingly becoming a down to earth member of the group to be positive from healthy mind and healthy physic (which explains he has packages on his chest), which I will say, its a nice change from being a sarcastic A-Hole to now a somewhat positive to turning himself around in healthy mind, though the downside is, much like his good pal Wolf, it didn’t go that well when he meets The Phantom Bandits, but, its mainly because he has love interest of one of Phantom members. Its a nice new development how he’s been changed, with Marc did a nice work of his role once again, especially for his character’s upgrade.

As for the remaining members of The Bad Guys, they’re aren’t much else to say about them, there’s Mr. Shark (reprised by Craig Robinson) a nervous member from his master of disguise, Mrs. Tarantula/Webs (reprised by Awkwafina, aka Sisu from Raya and the Last Dragon, aka Rebecca from Renfield and aka Katy from Shiang-shi) who’s the young and genius technology from her hacking skills and Mr. Piranha (reprised by Anthony Ramos) who’s the loose-canon muscle of the group with farting problem from fear. These three are pretty much remaining the same compared to two main members, which is rather disappointing that I wish they could’ve been having a new character developments, though il give credit to some having a nice work for their return, aside Awkwafina for constantly showing up whenever I watched some movies with her since Idris Elba.

Outside of our baddies, there’s Misty Luggins (reprised by Lois Griffin herself, Alex Borstein) who’s now promoted as the commissioner in police department who’s more in neutral role for demanding the evidence seriously before she’ll reach her limits to arresting The Bad Guys, Professor Marmalade (reprised by Richard Ayoade) who’s now the muscular prisoner who’s giving plot details after being a convicted crime, and finally, Diana Foxington/Crimson Paw (reprised by Zazie Beetz, aka Domino from Deadpool 2), Wolf’s love interest and the state governor who’s trying focus on her government duty than stick herself with the baddies, aside of secretly doing her robbery duty as Crimson Paw, although for the latter, I forgot to mention that there’s a subplot about her risk of exposing her secret identity, but it felt like it came out of nowhere, making the subplot part rather forgettable.

And finally, we have The Phantom Bandits (or The Bad Girls as they called), they’re what we assuming, the villains in the movie, which I find them to be decent, but, much like The Bad Guys, some of their developments are one-dimensional. There’s Pigtail Petrova (voiced by Maria Bakalova, aka Cosmo the Spacedog from Guardians of the Galaxy 3) is the muscle of the trio due to being a fan of The Bad Guys, Doom/Susan (voiced by Natasha Lyonna, aka Rachel Rozman from MCU’s Fantastic 4) who’s deceptive, sassy and somewhat similar to Snake, which probably explained why she and Snake are falling in love together. And finally, there’s Kitty Kat (voiced by Danielle Brooks), the leader of the group where her scheme is to having The Bad Guys working together to seeking MacGuffinite for her ultimate heist. I find her to be not bad, she’s a one tough son of a gun to taking her heist seriously and probably manipulative for her setup or she’ll embarrass our main baddies to letting her group get away with their plan, Kitty is good, but kind of downside she could’ve add a bit more development for why she forming her group for her ultimate heist goal in her serious execution.

While the rest aren’t much else to say that they’re just… There. Like Tiffany Fluffit (reprised by Lilly Singh/Superwoman) who’s a news reporter and Mr. Soliman (voiced by Omid Djyalili) who’s an Egyptian rich man who’s victimized by The Bad Guys in his attempt to distract them for the police, but alas, just there for wasting the time.

While the characters are welcome return, il give an appreciation with their updates for their new character developments and some welcome returning voice acting, even the new ones are good too, but they could’ve gone better to giving us a new and improved developments from before.

And now for my final opinion of this film

Overall, The Bad Guys 2 is a pretty nice and possibly the craziest sequel that they gave us.

The writing is good for good jokes, and some decent character developments, the animation looks pretty good for its action and the craziness they pulled and some characters are good that I give appreciation.

However, it suffers the same problem as the previous installment from the clichés, some lackluster characters, the story is kind of lacking for what could’ve been for the concept, while some jokes, while I had some chuckles, but some are questionable.

Is this really an improvement sequel over the first one? Well, that’s dependable for you guys, like if you’re a fan of The Bad Guys, this is definitely for you, but for non-fans like me, we can say its a fairly decent sequel for the sake of thrilling actions and nicely done animation, otherwise, we may considered an alright sequel. Its the film that can watch it once, and as il always saying, you can drop your conclusion if its a worthy sequel or not.

For my rating, im gonna give this one a 7/10.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.

Movie Review: The Naked Gun 2025

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

Remember when I did the review of Happy Gilmore 2? You know, the so-called “long waited sequel” that I was curious to see what’s going on with hockey player turned golf, but turned out to be a very disappointed result that I was pretty much both underwhelmed and gently angry, which I called the worst and disappointed sequel I’ve ever seen in the equivalent of “Be careful what you’re wishing” and its also the waste of space to be on Netflix. Perhaps I really should’ve watching “KPop Demon hunters”, but I digress. It turns out Happy Gilmore 2 isn’t the only one to have a classic comedy movie to have a have a sequel after to many years, but this one is well known and one of my favorite from the 80s when I saw on DVD.

“The Naked Gun” is a 2025 action crime comedy film that was written/directed by Akiva Schaffer, produced by Seth MacFarlane (Yup, that Seth MacFarlane) and Erica Huggins, and co-written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand.

Before we get to know where The Naked Gun began, lets take a brief moment of its origin. The idea came all the way back in the early 80s. Following a HUGE success of parody movie called “Airplane!” in 1980, the late Jim Abrahams and Zucker Brothers (David and Jerry) tried to make the next project, but outside of movie, they wanted to make parody of crime drama show called “Police Squad!”, aired on ABC in 1982, the show involves a bumbling deadpan police officer, detective Lieutenant Frank Drebin who’s on the case of dealing numerous crimes in a clumsy and comedic fashion, which is especially thanks to the late Leslie Nielsen who’s risen a comedic role after been in serious roles before the 80s. Which despite they’re planning to air six episodes, it was abruptly stopped after four aired episodes, until they aired two more before it was canned too soon. Talk about a big slap in the face to abruptly canned the show, despite it was actually great and funny. But Abrahams and Zuckers won’t let go their passion project, cause six years later, they gave us “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad” and it became a comedy gold in the late 80s with great reception and it made successful money at the box-office by earning $152.4M. But of course, since we love The Naked Gun, its no stranger it became a franchise to producing two sequels, they’re good, but not as fresh as the one that started all, but they still made money on both box-offices. And yes, I saw the first The Naked Gun, and I loved it so much its one of my favorite in the 80s, the second one is good, but not as great, but the third one, I never seen it, yet.

Fast forward to today, the idea of this came all the way back in the late 2000s, when the writer named Alan Spencer wanted to make the fourth one called “The Naked Gun: What 4? Rhythm of Evil”, but instead of releasing it on theater, its gonna be a Direct-to-TV film, but that planned never happened, as Leslie has gone aged that it was meant to passed the torch, but there’s also Abrahams and Zucker Brothers were disgusted that they wanted to canceled the project. But in 2013, Paramount Pictures wanted to try again with The Naked Gun, but its meant to be a remake with Ed Helms as the new Frank Drebin, along with Helms are take the role as the writer with Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant joined in. Though when they asked David Zucker joined in as the producer, but he refused to working on the project, seeing that their modern comedy style won’t be as good as when it used to, leaving the remake concept being canned. Then in 2021, the creator of Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane, stepped in that he wanted to make his vision of The Naked Gun as a producer, along with Akiva Schaffer joining in as a director, and its said that its gonna be a Legacy Sequel to focusing on the new generations after we saw The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, with surprisingly Liam Neeson joined in as Frank Jr. But once again, they asked David Zucker to be involved as the executive producer, but alas, he refused to be in this project.

So, with all that said, will The Naked Gun will be a welcome return in for new generation to save California, is this Legacy Sequel would be a bad taste to the past?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

For a movie being a legacy sequel, we expecting its gonna be one of those questionable or unoriginal story in a comedy movie. But when it comes to this movie, its actually fun, even if its nearly ridiculous.

The film begins in a bank robbery right away, where not only the gang are stealing money, which wouldn’t be until we introduce lieutenant, police officer, detective Frank Drebin Jr from Police Squad who beat the robbers down after disguising himself as a young school girl. But it turned out the bank robbery was a setup of distraction, when they secretly stole a “PLOT” device, (aka “Primordial Law of Toughness” device), a dangerous device that it blows a shockwave to brainwashing people in to barbarian nature to leaving him to becoming a revision “Founding Father” of the world. But at the same time, Frank Drebin, along with his partner Captain Ed Hocken Jr. also heard about a car crash to the death of Simon Davenport, at first, they thought it was a suicide, but it wouldn’t be until he met Simon’s sister, Beth, came to bringing new evidence that he didn’t died by suicide. So its up to Frank to solving crime cases about the responsible of Simon’s death and question about Richard Cane’s secret.

Its a standard police story of solving crime case, while the “who murdered element” is obviously cliché (because hey, its a police movie), but the plot from the villain’s setup is ridiculous, but in a pretty unique way for one villain who wants brainwashing people to going violently nuts to taking over the whole world, its almost its something out of The Purge, but its a long story. Again, even if the plot is ridiculous, but its actually fun, not just for the plot, but also for the writing, as it meant to follow the legacy from The Naked Gun/Police Squad, with modern twist, which out of modern comedy movies I watched, I actually have fun with this movie, ranging some dialogue in silly threats, some fun timing and maybe some nice reference, whether its just a pop culture reference or some homage of the past The Naked Gun, which il give a credit for bringing something new in this movie and a tribute. While I enjoy some humors, but not all of them are perfect, one is the romance montage scene that we have a snowman comes to life, which I guess its mean to be a parody reference of “Jack Frost” (you know, the one with Michael Keaton), which I think they miss the mark that they could’ve just do a similar montage with “Im into something good” romance scene in the first The Naked Gun, just saying. Although I should also point out the movie’s laugh is surprisingly short for like one in a half hour long, but at least this movie is reasonable, unlike MCU’s Fantastic 4’s length that I’ve been experienced.

While its nowhere perfect, but its ridiculously fun from the story concept, the writing and even the humors, its enjoyable.

The Presentation

The movie’s budget is surprisingly bigger than three The Naked Gun movies, it costed $42M in its budget, which is like three times bigger than the first one, but in fairness, it looks pretty good for beautiful view, and even a silly set.

For starter, the filming location look pretty nice for a movie taking place in Los Angeles, California, especially for seeing some beautiful shots of LA, along with the sets in the studios in interior are pretty cool and some sets are nice touch for its humor from its visual gag, like when stadium is called “Ponzi-scheme.com Arena” is meant to be a reference to “Crypto.com Arena”, I guess selling cryptocurrencies are no strangers for making money for digital shady scheme, even if the difference is that Ponzi Scheme is is a fraud operation that instead of pay return to original investor, you just shuffling around to new investors left and right, but I digress. While its a nice locations to film for taking place in LA, but in reality, it was filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, kind of odd when the first The Naked Gun was actually filmed in LA, maybe its for saving the budget based various sets, effects or others.

The sets and the way they filmed are actually pretty good and fun what we see, ranging from the indoor of Police Squad department, the jazz club scene with secret room. For course, their visual gags are actually enjoyable much like the writing, it also has references, for the most part. But of course, if you’re a fan of The Naked Gun movies (even though I still love the first one), it also have some Easter Eggs that you’re familiar with. However, if I have a nitpick on this movie, it will be the Cane car, which is basically a fictional electronic car that looks like a rejected model of today’s Hyundai, but it has only voice commands for to the car’s move or such, and to add more bizarre is the a triangle steering wheel (Eat you heart out, Elon Musk...)

Of course, it also has action scenes, which I will say, the action scenes pretty good from its physical fist fight and of course, the physical comedy’s execution is done pretty good that makes Frank Drebin jr to be both funny and badass at the same time. Though the downside I have is that, while we like to see fist fight and guns (Gun Fu style), but the usage of gun shooting are minimal, which it sucks that I would like to see a hilarious gun shot of death. But to be fair, it has a hilarious and creative beat up with guns in the climax, despite of disappointment, but il give credit for trying.

While some moments are flawed, but their presentation are enjoyable for either beautiful shots and a good laugh of visual gags.

The Characters

For a movie being the legacy sequel, you think the characters are going to be likable and even funny? Well, for the casts, it has a surprise veterans which they did a pretty good and fun job.

Lets start with our main hero, Frank Drebin Jr. (played by Qui-Gon Jinn himself, Liam Neeson), the son of Frank Sr., he’s the next generation of lieutenant, officer, detective on Police Squad to fighting against crimes for many days, either for being badass or being bumbling clumsy fella that he caused nothing but trouble. The easy way to say is “Like Father Like Son”, cause both Sr. and Jr. are both follow in a same duty, but in either coolest to hilariously idiotic way, which is pretty nice to pay homage from Leslie Nielsen days, although il give a credit to give a heart moment when he likes to follow the footsteps from his father and personal struggle when he lost his late wife. Whereas Leslie was such a legendary for his comedic deadpan and bumbling performance, here, its like imagine we have Taken merges with The Naked Gun, but to be fairly honest, I think Liam did a pretty good work of his performance for his action and his comedic role, its as if he made a surprising returning comedic role since we saw The Lego Movie in his good and bad role or even being over-the-top in Darkman. Which, when im saw him from the trailer, I was hesitant that he’s gonna be in mediocre comedic role, but he surprisingly took it in the final result, and like I said, he did a good job of his rule, even if that, as im writing this, he’s currently in 70s, which its not hard to see his action experience is gonna be soft from his old age, but still, he did a fun work.

Next up, we have Beth Davenport (played by Pamela Anderson, yup, the same actress/model who’s been on Playboy Magazine’s covers), she sorta sidekick to Frank for seeking revenge and asking for evidence about her brother’s death, and of course, she’s Frank’s new love interest. I find her also surprisingly good and funny, though sure, she’s meant to be another damsel in distress, but she’s half damsel and half femme-fatal based on being made to be rescue to even one time, she seeks revenge, which it may sounds like its gonna be a be like a good cop and bad cop thing. Well, almost… Of course, like Liam, im very surprised to see Pamela Anderson pulled her comedic performance, ranging from her lines, being accidental clumsy or even, probably my favorite part, jump on a stage of jazz music, but she scattering in a jazz music. Even though I’ve heard her name, but never seen her in either Baywatch show or her questionable film “Barb Wire”, despite those, she did a fun work of her role too.

After that, we have Ed Hocken Jr. (played by… Paul Walter Hauser again since MCU’s Fantastic 4?!), similar to Frank Jr., he’s the son of Ed Sr., who also wants to follow the footsteps, and again, Like Father Like Son, he’s Frank’s partner where he’s a no-nonsense partner to give a warning about some evidence or even some red flag moments. I think he’s passable, he’s more like giving us some plot device for evidence and such without causing Police Squad to fall down. While I find him to be good that Paul did a nice work of his role, but jeez, this is the second row I review the movie with Paul Walter Hauser.

And finally, we have Richard Cane (played by Danny Huston), the owner of Edentech whom, at first, we assuming he’s a gentle employer of his electronic brand to change the world, along with donating his electric car to Police Squad, but alas, much like our old friend Vincent Ludwig, he also has a dark secret of his plan, unlike the typical assassination, here, Cane is planning to taking over the world to brainwashing people into chaos with his P.L.O.T. Device that he and his team stole it, while doing a bank robbery as a distraction. Pretty crazy concept about his villainous goal, I find him to be fairly decent, he’s just a two face villain, there’s one face that he’s nice and open-minded to hanging out with like Frank Jr., but the other face is being narcissist and egotistic that he wants to make a perfect world by becoming his own vision of founding father. Kind of cliché for being an evil egomaniac, but il give credit for their crazy concept about him. Even though its a similar development as Ludwig, but at least the execution is crazy, but pretty nice, and Danny did a good work of his role.

As for the rest of this movie, they’re just there for either story development or even for jokes.

There’s Chief Davis (played by CCH Pounder) is the chief officer of Police Squad, Sig Gustafson (played by Kevin Durand) is Cane’s henchman from robbery to planning to framing Frank for criminal activity like murder (kind of cliché, but again, kind of over-the-top and interesting), Detective Barnes (played by Liza Koshy, aka Margot in… Ugh, Ruby Gillman) who’s a detective in Police Squad who’s just… There for finding her own evidence or calm interrogation, and the one named “Not-Nordberg Jr.” (played by Moses Jones), who likes to follow the footsteps as police officer, but not so much to connect to his so-called father Nordberg (I mean, what do you expect when OJ Simpson was possibly responsible or killing his family member and a friend that he pleaded not guilty? I mean, screw this former football player prick…).

Although, similar to Happy Gilmore 2, the movie also has plenty of celebrity cameos like current WWE Undisputed Champ Cody Rhodes as a bartender (I didn’t know he’s there), one of the bank robber is played by fast rapper Busta Rhymes, some MMA fighters like Justin Gaethje and Kamaru Usman, former WWE champ Dave Bautista (aka Drax in MCU) and of course, everyone’s favorite parody musician, “Weird Al” Yankovic.

While some characters have a same development from before, but il give credit for upgrade and something new. Along with fun performances from either new and veteran actors for their surprising and fun to do their comedic roles from physical gags and dialogues.

And now for my final opinion of this film

Overall, The Naked Gun 2025 is, at first, a pretty doubtful film when we saw the trailer, but surprisingly, its actually a pretty good legacy sequel what we didn’t expected. Yeah, its pretty surprising what they gave us.

It has good story, a great writing, the presentation looks nice, the characters are enjoyable, even if it kind of focus on Frank Jr., the actors are surprisingly great and have fun, and jokes are pretty good and worth of laugh.

Sure, it has a couple of clichés some can be predictable, the movie length is short as one in a half hour, but its understandable, and some ideas, while its good, but can be mixed, and some parts that they could’ve add more homage from the trilogy, but that’s just me for the latter.

If you’re a fan of The Naked Gun like me, I HIGHLY recommend to watch this movie, its a pretty good and fun film to watch, especially that it pays homage from The Naked Gun trilogy, along with giving a surprise appreciation for veteran actors give us their humorous roles. Though if you may not a fan of The Naked Gun, maybe il let you watch once, and as always, il let you guys drop your conclusion if you actually like this movie, if not, I’d say go watch “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad”, as an appetizer before you watch this year’s legacy sequel, again, il let you drop your conclusion.

For my rating, im gonna give this one an 8/10.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out

Movie Review: Happy Gilmore 2

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

Well folks, im back in business to do another Movie Review that I watched another movie in streaming platform from okay movie based true story like Flamin’ Hot on Disney+ to an UTTERLY GARBAGE like Unfrosted on Netflix. But that brings me to the latter that im doing another review of Netflix’s exclusive film that im highly anticipated that happens to be a sequel of one of my favorite movie from the 90s in changing sports.

“Happy Gilmore 2” is a 2025 sports comedy film that was directed by Kyle Newacheck, written/produced by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler (yup, not only he acts, but also work as a writer and producer with his studio “Happy Madison Productions”), and co-produced by Jack Giarraputo and Robert Simonds.

Before we get to the sequel, let me give you guys a brief history for where did Happy Gilmore begin. After been into Saturday Night Lives stand-up comedy and even released their first film “Billy Madison” that they made money both for them and their distributor Universal Pictures, the best roommates Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler were thinking for their next movie project, this time, its about what happened when a hockey player turned into a golfer with smashing over 400 yards drive, along with based Sandler’s childhood friend who used to be a hockey player when he and his old friend played golf together, along with couple others that they’ve been inspired, whether its from past experience or from whichever movies, thus they gave us “Happy Gilmore” in 1996 with Dennis Dugan directed it. Much like Billy, it had a mixed reception when it first came out, but it made a lot of money at the box-office with $41.4M, but as time went on, it became a cult favorite for golf community and some who grew up with this movie. For me, its one of my favorite movie in the 90s and my favorite movie starring Adam Sandler with nice story, its funny, good characters and, like any comedy movies, it has memorable lines that we love to referencing it, and of course, who doesn’t the iconic fight scene between Happy Gilmore and the great late host of The Price is Right, Bob Barker, its so great and funny to we can’t forget.

Anyway, more than decades later, several fans (probably myself included) would love to see another movie with Happy Gilmore, even Sandler expressed himself that he also loved to make a sequel for his title character’s follow-up to senior golf tour. However, instead of bringing Universal Pictures back for distribution, its now distributed by Netflix, which for those if you don’t know, in the late 90s, 2000s and early 2010s Adam Sandler used to been in couple of films on the big screen, while there are some that are not bad like Punch-Drunk Love and Click, but lot of them are either mediocre or a complete eye and ear sores like “I pronounce you, Chuck and Larry”, “Jack and Jill” and “That’s my Boy” or even two “Grown Ups” films…! After released Pixels, Sandler has moved on from theatrical films into working on Netflix films, minus couple other films like three “Hotel Transylvania” movies (which they’re an animated films on the big screen), while some are still bad like “The Ridiculous 6”, but he did eventually gave us some good ones like Leo, Hustle and the best one of all, Uncut Gems.

So, with all that said, will Happy Gilmore make a epic return to hit ball in 400 yards one more times, or is this film make me having a short fuse?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

After years of follow up, you would think that its gonna be a new goal of saving earning money for the name of family? Well, that’s the good news, but the bad news is it threw out of window from a new plot has gotten stupider, but not in a good way…

The movie begins with a follow up after Happy Gilmore won the championship for his beloved grandma to save her house. Despite granny is no longer with him, but he kept relevant to play golf with five more champion and becoming a family with with four boys and one daughter. But in 2014, everything went downhill when after teeing his golf ball to his wife Virginia, he’s fallen apart from heavy drinker with booze and losing his house since grandparents had before, along with facing legal trouble of having a fist fight with an innocent man with Ferrari. He ends up living in a small house with his daughter Vienna, while his boys doing their business, along with his boys went for their own jobs separately. However, while Happy is on his job in supermarket, his daughter, thanks to building up her ballet career, is asked to be enrolling to Paris for four-year ballet school, but that costs $75K that he’s gotta find the way to figuring out to raise money for his daughter, but thanks to encouragement from his grandpa figure John Daly, along with meet a notorious CEO of Energy Drink named Frank Manatee who asked him to joining his own “Maxi Tour” that Happy refused, he’s comes out of retirement to play golf again in the name of his daughter.

This plays much like the first one, but in opposite direction, whereas the first one is helping Grandma to saving her house from repossession from IRS from lack of granny’s budget, but here, its to raise money for his daughter to building up her career, which is rather nice that we were hoping to see Gilmore comes back for another chance for another swing from 400 yards. But alas, all the good concept came to at end, instead it focuses on some cheap jokes that it feels like I should’ve seen coming from all of cheap jokes from previous Happy Madison films, sure I did have a chuckle at some moments, but everything else went downhill from there, since when we get to the second act, the main plot was thrown out in favor of trying to save golf industry with an annoyingly loud obnoxious and cheating style of golf from Frank Manatee’s view, like is this kind of questionable concept that they came up with that its all about saving golf sports aside of building up Vienna’s career to France?? All that for the sake of cheap joke that feels like it was written by dumb social influencers like Paul brothers or KSI. There’s also a subplot where Happy, despite coming back to play golf, his addiction is ruining his chance that he’s forced by both golf and going to the alcoholic treatment program, run by Hal L, the same man who worked as a caretaker in retirement home, which sounds fine, but not for making yet another cheap jokes that ruined it. Again, I did have chuckle at some jokes, but most jokes are just bad and cheap with pee jokes, obnoxious party jokes and couple others if I missed out. But if I do have some other positive note, at least they did gave us some fairly decent reference from the past, whether be a reunion or even a next generation like Slim Peterson who happens to be the son of the great late Chubs Peterson and Drago Larson, the son of Mr. Larson, but il save them later.

While the concept and nostalgia reference are nice, but everything else is ruined from dumb story, mixed writing and cheap jokes that 10% are chuckle worthy, while 90% are just forced, annoying and stupid…!

The Presentation

While the movie’s budget didn’t show me (despite that I tried my best in research), but at least the movie’s presentation is not bad for say the least.

For starter, they only filmed in New Jersey, like nearly all over the place in NJ from Morristown for the hotel scene, Bedminster for the country club, the burger shop in Garfield (Yes, someone in Jersey though its fun to called small town, either based on someone’s last name or a cat who hates Monday), and golf games in Hackettstown for the golf center and West Orange for Montclair Golf Club, and the couple other places in NJ. Though it should also point out that this is quite possibly the inspiration of a rivalry between the ongoing gentlemen sports that we all know “PGA Tour” and the other is a modern new one called LIV Golf, from what I’ve heard, LIV Golf is more about exciting and colorful tour, and also funded by the investment from Saudi Arabia in the most oblivious fashion ever called “Sportswashing”, since we all know Saudi Arabia is the most corrupting and broken down mess country ever. Which I guess that explained why this one came from, but not in a good way.

The way they filmed is fairly decent at best, along with some improvement like when Happy tees off his golf ball with a new camera follow the ball in the air instead of what we see the golf ball in the air while filmed in the ground like we’ve seen in PGA Tour or others, il give credit what they wanna make something new. But the downside is that some of the visual jokes and others are either felt like it borrowed from other Happy Madison films or just cheaply copy from the first film, again, its nice to brought back, but more like badly aged.

But one part that really made me cringe, its not just a cheap jokes or such, but rather the presentation of Maxi Golf, I mean good lord, while it looks fine, but the way they came up off the rule book, some cheap obstacles and the gimmicky golf players are just obnoxious and again, cringe that it feels like the social influencers came up with this mess that I’d much rather change the channel to watching PGA instead of Golf themed Prime sports juice (before asked, I tried to take one of its flavor and its nothing by a cheap sugar and caffeine juice, I hated it, but of course, Logan Paul and KSI didn’t care, they’re making stupid money out of those junks).

While il give a small positive note for new filming as a sequel of Happy Gilmore, but its nowhere safe with some questionable designs, some sets and some cheaply post-production effect that I also forgot to mentioned the latter.

The Characters

While we have a welcome return characters, you think if the old ones and the new ones could gave us a new development. Hehehehe… No, because again, the writing ruined it that they changed into a mess what they used to.

Lets start off with our titular hero, Happy Gilmore (played by Adam Sandler himself), a former hockey player turned veteran golfer who came out of retirement to raise more money for his daughter’s goal, however he started as an unmotivated broken down man that due to his wife Virginia’s death from a fatal accident from a golf ball, he’s pretty much struggling himself with heavy drink and regaining his fashion of golf since his good’ol days when he won six titles. I find him to be fairly good, even if its a same story of veteran player trying to get back up after the decline, kind of like Lightning McQueen from Cars 3. Despite he’s fairly well written, but he feels rather underwhelming, he’s just the same, but downgrade when he used to, we never be able to see him in anger whenever he loses in Golf, but more about another one of those veterans who came out of retirement couple various reasons, along with struggling from the tragic moment. Il give a credit for Adam for doing a fun work of his performance, but as a comedic writer and producer in his production company, not so very much what he’s trying.

Then we have Shooter McGavin (played by Christopher McDonald, aka Jor-El in Superman: The Animated series), who used to be famous golfer and overly protective on PGA tour when Happy Gilmore was there, but now, he was in asylum to live in new life, due to his mental breakdown from his loss from Gilmore. At first, you expected to see Shooter comes out for revenge to hunting down Happy Gilmore for his losing game (and his mind) for playing another golf or in ass-kicking contest, but alas, he’s not even the main villain, but more like a rival reunion instead of bullying Gilmore for revenge, even if he’s not gonna play golf anymore from his older age, which I can understand from Chris’s age, but even though its nice to see him again, but like Sandler, its just the way he was written was nothing but disappointment.

And we have Hal L (played by Ben Stiller) who used to be a harsh caretaker of old timers in nursing home in Waterbury, and now the leader of the alcohol rehab. Though at first, I though he’ll be okay to be in a minor role in the movie much like in the first film, but instead, he’s the secondary role that he took a harsh treatment in the rehab, which I find him to be over-the-top, but not in a good way he was written that he’s trying to be “funny” and be “smarter” for helping the people in their charges to be in rehab. Though im not saying I don’t like Stiller, I think he’s a great actor when I saw him in Zoolander, Madagascar, There’s Something about Mary and even Tropic Thunder, but like always, its the way he was written that I find him to be rather mean spirited, in again, not in a good kind.

As for the new characters in the movie, well, despite il give credit for their performance, but they’re just either obnoxious, stupidly dumb or a waste of space nor potential.

Lets start with the main antagonist, Frank Manatee (played by Benny Safdie), the CEO of Maxi Energy Drink with his sponsor of the gold tour “Maxi Tour” that he wants to change golf in different way after getting rejected by Happy Gilmore. I find him to be the obnoxious for the way he’s written for changing golf in the fashion of Gen-Z or Social Influencers’ cringe, especially for the latter that he’s like the movie version of Logan Paul and KSI, based on their annoying attention seeking fame and the similar energy drinks for attention-seeking sponsors. While I considered Hal for being mean-spirited, Frank is being obnoxious, not even Benny saves himself for his stupid role that he’s portrayed.

Next up, we have Oscar Mejias (played by Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, aka Bad Bunny), a former busbuy who got unfairly fired from his business for being an airhead, along with wishing he wants to be running an Italian restaurant. When I first heard of him, I though he’s just a dumb airheaded former busboy who’s played by unknown actor, but in reality, im quite surprised that he’s played by Bad Bunny himself, even if its just he wants to be credited with his real name outside of his stage name. But when it comes to Bad Bunny’s portray, I find him to be a miscast, he went from a Puerto Rican rapper and occasional wrestler in WWE into a clueless former busser who’s never heard about golf, nor anything. Even though I never seen Bullet Train or some others he’s involved, I fins his acting is fine at best, but also, its easy to blame how he’s written.

After that, we have Vienna (played by one of Adam’s daughters, Sunny Sadler), Happy’s only daughter outside of her brothers that she’s training to becoming a ballet dancer in order to raise money to be in Paris in dance school. I find her to be fairly decent too, she’s not as annoying or stupid, she’s just a passable and lovable daughter for building up her career and have a good respect to her father in order to regain his motivation. Plus, while not perfect, but il give credit to her performance that she did a nice work that she likes to follow her footsteps from her father Adam. Heck even her sister Sadie (who played by Charlotte in Hal’s alcohol rehab) joined in, and I find she also did a nice work of her role. So good for them. Though the same can be said to Adam’s wife Jackie (who played Monica, who’s Vienna's teacher for dancing).

Next, we have Slim Peterson (played by Lavall Crawford), the son of Happy’s mentor and pro-golfer, Chubbs Peterson, who’s the owner of miniature golf place and having some experience of golf (like father like son), but much like his father, he lost his hand, but thankfully, its not an alligator, but rather a vending machine incident. I find him to be okay, perhaps he kind of miscast to playing as the son of the late Chubbs Peterson, though im guessing he also wanted to in golf tour, but never happened due to putting wooden prosthetic hand from vending machine incident. While the casting choice is left a lot of questions, but il give credit for the writing, for the most parts.

And finally, we have Billy Jenkins (played by Haley Joel Osment), a young pro-golfer who has a similar swing from Happy Gilmore, but unlike Happy, he’s picked up by Frank as a big deal for Maxi Golf, making him as Frank’s henchman with his Maxi Golf team. He’s pretty much the young, but lackluster writing who he is, along with questionable moment for how he has a mighty swing compared to Gilmore. While his performance is, okay at best he’s been, even if his performance in this movie would be a bad timing, which in April of this year, he was arrested in ski resort for being intoxicated with substance abuse and being a Karen for his foul mouthing as Jewish people, despite he apologized his action. That’s a BIG OOF that im pretty sure he’s going into decline in his career in my opinion.

As for the rest, there really isn’t much else to say, despite there are some are so being desperately to be “funny”.

There’s Gilmore’s sons Gordie (played by surprisingly a Heel AEW wrestler, Maxwell Jacob Friedman), Wayne (played by Ethan Cutkosky) Bobby (played by Philip Fine Schneider) and young bro Terry (played by Conor Sherry), they’re the bros that they have their careers separately, but they’re annoyingly brutal that they dared to have a fight, much to dismay to Vienna, Virginia (played by Julie Bowen) who’s now dead, but in Happy’s mind for motivation to remind him in good’ol days, John Daly is depicted as fictional self in hermit who lives in Happy’s garage for motivation, and addicted to hand sanitizer (The F(bleep), dude?!), the same can be said with real life golfers in fiction like Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy (the latter of which who eventually won the 2025 Masters Tournament in Grand Slam, congrats Rory, but you deserve better than being involved with this film), Drago Larson (played by Boban Marjanovic) who’s the son of Mr. Larson, but sadly, I just wish I want to see him more, but he’s pretty much an afterthought instead of being a gentle giant supporter to Happy Gilmore like Mr. Larson, and finally, Donald Floyd jr (played by shockingly, Eminem, aka Slim Shady) who’s the son of Donald who likes to harassing Happy for losing the game for name-calling “Jackass!”, but alas, much like Drago Larson, he too didn’t last long, but being one of those celeb cameo for the sake of cheap marketing, like come on, I wish I would like to see him more both in PGA Tour and Maxi Tour where he insults Happy, but instead, it was a short moment, all that for nothing but a cheap stupid joke and poor reminder… but in fairness, at least Eminem took a fun performance, for the most part.

While some actors and even other celebs did a nice performances, especially with some surprise, but its just a lot of them are either badly written or for cheap marketing with but load of cameos that they never have their own development or such. Even though I have some characters that I gave an appreciation.

And now for my final opinion of this film

Overall, Happy Gilmore 2 is the most disappointing and its the second Worst Netflix movie I’ve ever seen since Unfrosted last year…!

While I may like the concept, the filming, some acting performances and some good characters, but everything else is a colossal mess with very bad writing that feels like a DOWNGRADE over the first film, the story is ridiculously bad, the set of Maxi Tour is stupid, the old characters could’ve gone better, the new characters are bad or even a complete waste and the jokes are nothing but cheap immature and cringe that I really should’ve know that this is Happy Madison film since I watched “That’s My Boy”…!

This much like Space Jam: A New Legacy, this is the equivalent of “Be careful what you’re wishing for”, which from before, I was curiously anticipated to see it, especially I saw some people liked this one, but after watching it, it completely fell apart that im just disappointed and pretty much mad for watching this on Netflix. If you’re a fan of Happy Gilmore, perhaps this one is for you, I can respect that if you like it. Otherwise, its the film that has potential, but completely ruined what we got in this movie. Easily the most disappointing sequel and another waste of space to be on Netflix…!

Im gonna give this piece of dog mess a 3/10, along with earning the Dumpster Fire of Failure…!

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out