Happy Gilmore - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) has rage issues. He’s got a short fuse, and he’s quick to explode into a violent rage. He’s always quick to apologize, though. He’s a good guy at heart. So, when he finds out that his grandma, the woman who raised him, owes money to the IRS and they’re going to seize her home, he springs into action to save it. Happy’s a hockey player at heart, but he can’t skate. What he does have, though, is a hell of a swing, and he parleys that into the world of professional golf to raise enough money to save his grandma's home. Under the tutelage of Chubbs (Carl Weathers), Happy learns the ins and outs of the game: How to compose himself professionally and how to stop slugging everyone who insults him. Chubbs lives vicariously through Happy—Happy’s career is just beginning, and Chubbs’ was cut short when he lost a hand to an alligator (played by legendary alligator actor, Morris).

Comical mayhem ensues, as comical mayhem is wont to do. Happy’s rockstar antics attract the attention of reporter Virginia (Julie Bowen), as well as the attention of a new crop of viewers who would usually find a game of golf too boring to sit through. He also makes an enemy out of Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald), a jealous adversary who has his eye on the title and will do anything to win. As funny as Sandler is in the lead role of Happy, he’s also supported by a hell of a cast, who give their all, including Ben Stiller in a hilarious, uncredited cameo as a crooked rest home employee who runs a secret sweatshop. But most famously, it’s probably Bob Barker who steals the show with an extended, epic fight scene between himself and Happy.

Every once in a while, everything comes together for a creative person. It’s a perfect storm; everything clicks. For Adam Sandler, that project is Happy Gilmore. Before this, Billy Madison was a slam drunk, and he’s done funny movies after, but Happy Gilmore is his masterpiece. The plot isn’t anything revolutionary: It’s a fish-out-of-water, slobs vs snobs sports flick. But everything about it works, even the formulaic plot. It’s comfort food, expertly prepared for maximum enjoyment. Every scene works and packs a handful of memorable gags into it. All Happy Gilmore wants to do is make its audience laugh and forget itself for a while. I’ve seen Happy Gilmore dozens of times throughout my life, and it never fails to make me laugh, smile, and forget my troubles.

In the world of film criticism, it’s easy to look down on a self-proclaimed “stupid” comedy. I never thought that was fair. It’s no easy task to be funny. There are enough bad comedies out there to prove this, and there’s nothing worse than a bad comedy. To sit through a bad comedy, an empty plot with gag after gag that fails to land, it’s torture. But to sit through a good comedy is pure joy. Happy Gilmore is pure joy.

Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Happy Gilmore plays a full 18 holes in a two-disc release from Kino Lorber, on both 4K UHD and 1080p high-definition. The two discs are housed in a standard case with a removable slipcover, both containing identical artwork from the film’s original release and home video releases.

For this release, Kino Lorber presents Happy Gilmore in 4K from a 6K scan (Arri Dry Gate Full Aperture 5460 x 4150 16-Bit) of the original negative. This is so wildly overkill for a movie of this type, and I’m all for it. I can’t argue with the end result, either: It looks fantastic. Details are nice and sharp, close-ups reveal intricate details on actors’ faces and stitching in their clothing. With the Dolby Vision HDR grading, colors pop gloriously. The greens of the golf course, with blades of grass visible in the textured detail, look better than they ever have on home video. With most shots, Happy Gilmore is sleek in its overall presentation, but film grain is apparent in a lot of shots with a large, primary color, like a wide shot of a green golf course, a blue sky, or even a character wearing a white shirt.

Like most Kino Lorber releases, Happy Gilmore is available in both 5.1 surround and 2.0 stereo, both encoded in DTS-HD MA. I gave both audio options a listen for this review, and my preference was for the surround option, although both are pretty close and nearly flawless in their overall implementation. On the surround option, rear channel activity isn’t super frequent, mostly used more for musical cues and the occasional sound effect, like the POV shot of Happy’s golf ball whooshing through trees. But there are a few fun effects unique to the 5.1 mix, like the subwoofer growling during the mini-golf sequence with the earthquake-themed course. With both options, dialogue clarity is favored throughout, crystal clear and clean.

Par for the course with most Kino Lorber releases, Happy Gilmore is sadly lacking when it comes to special features. This release features a brand-new audio commentary, but aside from that, it includes only a few legacy features from previous DVD and Blu-ray releases.

• Audio Commentary - Author and Filmmaker Bryan Connolly & The Billy Gilmore Podcast Host Wilson Smith
• Deleted Scenes (SD 18:36)
• Outtakes (SD 5:07)
• Trailers

Happy Gilmore is one of the defining comedies of the 1990s. It’s not particularly deep, but it doesn’t have to be. It hits a hole-in-one and scores some big laughs from its simple premise. With a ton of memorable gags and lines, it’s just as funny today as it was in 1996. Kino Lorber’s release may be scant on the special features front, but it boasts amazing video and terrific audio, in service of a comedy classic. Happy Gilmore from Kino Lorber Studio Classics is Highly Recommended.