(Credit: Netflix)

Adam Sandler’s career highlights are a comedy nirvana of their own. The five-time Emmy winner has made it his life’s purpose to ensure a jolly good time wherever he goes. Whether it’s the theatrical or the streaming era, Sandler’s impact remains intact. With a Netflix release in the pipeline of the highly anticipated sequel to his laugh-out-loud sports comedy Happy Gilmore, all that the audience is busy with is counting the days until the final reveal.

While the buzz is absolutely worth it, it perhaps wouldn’t be without the 1996 original. Directed by Dennis Dugan, Happy Gilmore follows the namesake ice hockey player whose anger issues and lack of skating skills hold him back. However, put in a tough spot, he attempts to make enough money to stop the IRS from foreclosing on his grandmother’s house. The film essentially explores the trials and tribulations of Happy after he enters the world of golf almost unexpectedly while hustling on a driving range.

He meets Chubbs Peterson, a former ace golfer. But the twist is that he suffered an amputation from an alligator bite. However, upon meeting Happy, he pushes him to enter the Waterbury Open. Winning the Open would allow him an automatic spot on the PGA Tour, and with that comes a lucrative cash prize. And the real story begins when he actually wins the Open.

According to the official synopsis and the trailer released, Happy Gilmore 2 picks up 30 years after he won his first PGA Tour Championship. But if you haven’t watched the original, it might be a bit difficult to pick up on the Easter eggs. In the opening salvo, as Happy takes out the caddy from his car trunk, the logo emblazoned clearly signals he’s still a Subway-sponsored golfer.

Additionally, the publicist who found him the sponsorship in Happy Gilmore, Virginia, is now happily married to Happy. And Happy Gilmore 2 is about to introduce their kids as well. In fact, Tudum has revealed that the paychecks he won from the gold tournaments in the first film are also featured in the upcoming one, right beside his trophies in the basement.

Happy Gilmore was all about the risks he took to save his grandmother’s home. And as per the outlet, fans are about to find many more crumbs from the first, including Happy’s grandma’s picture dangling from his rearview mirror in the same car he drove in the original one. Moreover, with familiar faces returning from the 1996 film, without the context of their intricate backstories, tracking the narrative threads and references might prove a bit of a challenge.

The outlet also teased that Happy Gilmore 2 will be full of subtle nods, including the hockey stick putter from the first film. So, it’s safe to say it all comes back. Even you might find a bit of Happy in his children, all you need to do is watch closely. Not to mention that Happy Gilmore was famous for its iconic dialogue. And the sequel is bringing it all back with star-studded cameos, recurring characters, and unfortunately, Shooter McGavin as well. Happy Gilmore comes back on July 25th.