10 Times Adam Sandler Proved He Can Act

Perhaps the quintessential comedy Sandler role, the comedian has played variations of Happy Gilmore in approximately half his filmography, for good and for bad. He nailed it on the first try, though, and makes a relatively difficult balancing act look completely natural in this evergreen sports comedy.

To play a character so brash and annoying but equally likeable is either a skill or a blessing - it seems to come naturally to Sandler, who rides that line better than, say, Jim Carrey. He injects a vulnerability to his characters which other line pushing comic actors fail to do. Happy Gilmore essentially follows a standard snobs vs slobs format, but Sandler’s energy and knack for the absurd is so great as to make it fresh. His affability allows him to get away with the kind of material few others could while enjoying an A list career.

Happy Gilmore hit a nerve and set off a comedy empire, but as far as Sandler comedies goes, it has probably not yet been topped. This kind of high octane comedy is a young man’s game, and luckily he hit the jackpot early on.