5 Awesome Performances
5. Happy Gilmore (1996)
If Billy Madison was the movie that paved the way for Sandlers ginormous comedy career, Happy Gilmore was the movie that set the grout. Weve come to know Sandler as that overly aggressive frat boy to the point that nowadays it might even be tiresome to some but for Happy Gilmore the schtick was still as fresh as newly cut grass. Lets call it what it is: Happy Gilmore is throwaway comedy. But its great throwaway comedy. It wasnt made to break down boundaries or reinvent the game. Its meant to be idiotic, brash and over-zealous; all qualities bestowed on it by an outrageous central performance from Sandler. If there were an academy award for Best Boisterous Comedy Performance, you can be sure hed have been in the running that year. Of course there isnt and as such Happy Gilmore boasts few accolades. Still, for straight funny, Sandler is arguably close to his best here.