Movies

‘Happy Gilmore’ is back for another round, as are Adam Sandler and his longtime collaborator

BBG News

On your initial day at college, it’s always uncertain who might become your roommate. It may turn out to be a messy, partying type that makes your college experience tough, or a dedicated student who you barely cross paths with throughout the semester.

Perhaps you’re roommates with a then-unknown Adam Sandler in a shared apartment, both of you just starting out, and later on, you collaborate to produce some of the funniest and long-lasting comedic films from the past three decades.

As a cinephile, I’d like to share the extraordinary yet delightfully uncomplicated tale of my journey – Tim Herlihy. Once upon a time, I was a diligent student studying business and accounting, with dreams of a career in law. Little did I know that my destiny lay not in courtrooms but on silver screens. My screenplay credits for my buddy Sandler include the heartwarming tale of “Billy Madison,” the lovable slacker; the romantic comedy “The Wedding Singer”; and the captivating story of “Happy Gilmore,” a remarkable (yet fiery) hockey player who found his true calling in golf.

For many years, Herlihy and Sandler have mainly attained success by letting their whimsical ideas guide them. However, they are now venturing into uncharted territory – a sequel, which is quite unusual for them.

Happy Gilmore 2″ – released by Netflix last Friday, focuses on its rebellious protagonist, Happy Gilmore, now a grown man who has softened over time. In this highly anticipated sequel, which features an impressive ensemble including Bad Bunny, Travis Kelce and Benny Safdie, Gilmore’s primary focus is not longer just about golf, but rather the well-being of his family and pondering his own legacy.

Herlihy mentioned that for many years, they had been against the concept of a “Happy Gilmore” sequel, but in a moment of weakness, they became open to it.

Herlihy stated, “The motivation behind creating it is similar to why I decided to get a pet dog.” He added, “I kept saying, ‘No, I don’t want a dog. No, I don’t want a dog.’ But then suddenly, the thought crossed my mind, ‘What if I had a dog?’ And just two days later, I found myself with a new pet dog.

Throughout his career, Herlihy finds himself just as amazed as others in a long-term, productive creative alliance. Yet, he remains unconcerned with the reasons behind its success or its overall significance.

As a passionate movie-goer, I’ve come to realize that it’s futile for me to create an act or persona. Eventually, I find myself enjoying the craft the most, producing my finest work, and making no concessions when collaborating with Adam.

Movies

Actor Adam Sandler, famous for playing Happy Gilmore, posted a heartfelt and playful tribute to his on-screen reptile friend, Morris the alligator, who passed away peacefully at a gator farm in southern Colorado due to old age.

Herlihy, age 58, who hails from Brooklyn and was brought up in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., recently had a chat over lunch at a West Village bistro, which is not too far from the New York University dormitory where he crossed paths with Sandler as freshmen back in 1984.

Recounting the significant moment when he first met Sandler upon moving into their dorm, Herlihy noted that Sandler exuded a certain self-confidence. “He made it appear as if he was well-versed in the place, and even his mother was cleaning the bathroom,” Herlihy stated. “I thought, they paired me with someone who’s already a sophomore?

In a video conversation, Sandler expressed that Herlihy radiated a comparable level of self-assurance. “I asked him, ‘What’s your dream?'” Sandler reminisced. “He answered, ‘I believe I want to become a billionaire.’ Quite a statement — indeed, I never thought such ambition was within reach.

They formed a strong connection through their shared enthusiasm for films such as “Caddyshack” and other aspects of popular culture. As Adam Sandler put it, “Upon our first encounter, I wore a Police T-shirt, and he had one featuring Rodney Dangerfield. Since we were the same size, we decided to swap shirts. I asked for his Rodney shirt, and he agreed only if I gave him my Police shirt in return.

Essentially, when Sandler first expressed his intention to embark on stand-up comedy and sought material, Herlihy utilized his weekends commuting to and from Poughkeepsie to jot down some jokes for him. (Nowadays, Herlihy can’t recall any specific jokes he wrote. “It wasn’t a gathering like the Algonquin Round Table at that time,” he said. “It was likely worse than you’re picturing.”)

In the ensuing years, as Herlihy pursued his legal studies at NYU and joined the workforce, he consistently provided Sandler with creative concepts and content. When Sandler found success on “Saturday Night Live,” Herlihy assisted him in creating characters like the dim-witted Canteen Boy. They collaborated on the script for Sandler’s 1995 film “Billy Madison,” exchanging pages via fax while Herlihy typed diligently late at night on a computer at his law office.

The film ‘Happy Gilmore’ came out prior to ‘Billy Madison’, yet penning a second movie wasn’t any less challenging for Herlihy and Sandler following the creation of their initial one.

In her explanation, she mentioned that the first film you worked on was filled with all your passion and creativity, every joke you had ever conceived. When it comes to making another movie, she said, you find yourself asking, “What should we do next?

Yet, Herlihy persisted in moving from one Sandler production to another – “Happy Gilmore” led to “The Wedding Singer”, which then resulted in “The Waterboy” – only to find himself gazing back and recognize that he had become a screenwriter for motion pictures.

During ‘Mr. Deeds,’ various events began unfolding, as Herlihy explained. However, due to lack of energy rather than any specific reason, he plans to return to managing situations one at a time instead of juggling multiple tasks simultaneously.

According to Herlihy, the collection he had in mind contained a follow-up to “Happy Gilmore,” the movie that made $40 million back in 1996 and later turned into a beloved classic among fans.

According to Christopher McDonald, best known for his role as Shooter McGavin, the antagonist with a knack for malaprops in “Happy Gilmore”, the film’s lasting popularity can be attributed to a single factor.

McDonald repeated ‘Television, television, television.’ It became quite a sensation as people began to watch and exclaim, ‘Wow, grab the grandkids! This is something special – something for the ages!’ Everyone laughed in delight, and it remains relevant even today.

Attempting to pen “Happy Gilmore 2” was just as difficult as its original version. Herlihy and Sandler invested countless hours in the lobby of Sandler’s production company, Happy Madison, rearranging index cards on a bulletin board, brainstorming and discarding potential plot points, seeking a compelling reason for Gilmore to return to golf at this point in his life. (This sequel finds him pursuing his daughter’s ballet school dreams, with Sunny Sandler portraying the character.)

In this project, Herlihy was expected to be present on set daily and improvise fresh dialogue, much like he did during the initial “Happy Gilmore” production.

Julie Bowen, who starred as Gilmore’s love interest Virginia in both movies based on “Modern Family,” reminisced about Herlihy being kind and easy-going during their first filming. It seemed unlikely that such a person could have been involved in creating the well-known “happy place” fantasy scene where she carried two pitchers of beer while wearing white lingerie, but Bowen stated that she never felt objectified or foolish about it. Instead, she felt like she was contributing to one of the best jokes ever made.

In the making of “Happy Gilmore 2,” I had the pleasure of witnessing Adam Sandler and Christopher McDonnell’s performances mesh with an incredible harmony. They meticulously sifted through each take and every joke, striving for perfection in their delivery.

When I notice something amiss,” I find myself saying, “Give me a moment, I’ll fix it.” They don’t hold their work as if it were the Bard’s own words, and every comma is open to adjustment. Instead, it’s more like, “Let’s brainstorm something hilarious together!

Kyle Newacheck, the director of “Happy Gilmore 2,” found it exciting yet daunting to collaborate with Sandler and Herlihy, two individuals he was familiar with from Adam Sandler’s movies and comedy albums such as “They’re All Gonna Laugh at You!

Newacheck remarked, “Their bond is long-standing,” having previously directed Sandler in the film “Murder Mystery.” It’s a connection where one person’s action could hint at displeasure, or another gesture could signal a familiar pattern, suggesting an ability to outmaneuver each other.

Newacheck stated, ‘It was an amazing chance to share laughter with, undeniably, the duo who molded my comedic style, and then contribute some humor of my own. There’s no greater joy than making them chuckle with what I said.’

In Sandler’s view, the lasting nature of his partnership with Herlihy is due to one simple factor: “He’s simply a fantastic, hilarious individual. I adore him immensely. Every interaction with him is something I cherish. It’s thrilling to listen to his perspectives on current events.

From their initial encounter onwards, Sandler remarked, “I found myself thinking, this fellow is quite reserved and hardly talks at all. Yet, as the year progressed, I realized he’s more humorous than everyone else.

However, as Herlihy sees it, their collaboration relies on the differences that exist between these lifelong companions. Sandler, in his view, is the one who consistently puts in long hours, collaborating with various directors, creating both dramas and comedies, and producing films for other writers and actors.

“The more he’s doing on a movie, the more he’s happy,” Herlihy said. “I just like time off.”

Additionally, Herlihy maintains a special connection to his past at “SNL” as well – his son Martin, who’s part of the comedy group ‘Please Don’t Destroy’, works and performs there. From time to time, they catch up to swap tales and guidance.

Television

Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, and Ben Marshall form the comedy troupe “Please Don’t Destroy”. They have now unveiled their debut full-length movie, following the popularity garnered from their ‘Saturday Night Live’ video skits.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I can’t help but share an interesting tidbit I came across recently. When the charismatic Bad Bunny, who’s no stranger to “SNL,” with stints both as host and musical guest, was rumored for a part in “Happy Gilmore 2,” he reached out to the legendary Martin himself. According to Chris Herlihy, Martin is known for his positive vibes, so when Bad Bunny asked him about his comedic abilities, Martin simply replied, “He’s really funny, but Martin never says anything bad about anybody.” Now, isn’t that a testament to the respect Martin has for his peers in the industry?

Herlihy was delighted to find out that Bad Bunny had skills beyond what we knew, as he stated.

Regarding whether his career will forever be linked to Sandler, Herlihy expressed that ultimately it’s history’s call, as it lies beyond his control. He further mentioned that in the grand scheme of things, such distinctions might not hold much weight. He illustrated this by sharing an example from his own life: despite being a screenwriter, he often forgets who penned the films he watches.

He stated, “I’m not familiar with anyone who penned the Marx Brothers films,” and also added, “I can’t identify who wrote ‘Kramer vs. Kramer.’

Then his mind went to an even more absurd and over-the-top scenario.

Suppose you’re an acclaimed actor with a brilliant career spanning many decades. At the age of 70, imagine having an embarrassing incident involving diarrhea on Sunset Boulevard. The headline of your obituary might then read: ‘Actor Remembered for Diarrhea Incident.’

In essence, Herlihy stated: “Ultimately, the key takeaway is this: You can’t dictate how you’ll be remembered. So, cherish your family and find joy in laughter.

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2025-07-25 13:33

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