‘Happy Gilmore’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and The Safdie Brothers
December 10, 2019 · Happy Gilmore (1996) · Comedy · Sport · 1:42:37 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Half-Assed Internet Research
Benny SafdiePrice is Right had ratings boost after Happy Gilmore; observations about ball flight shots being animated/edited▶ 8:07
Bill SimmonsComedy golden era 1994-96 with movies like Ace Ventura, Dumb and Dumber, Tommy Boy, Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore; SNL cast becoming movie stars; Sandler's departure from SNL during bad season▶ 6:24
Josh SafdieDangerfield didn't become a movie star until age 60; Sandler as absurdist comedian like Jerry Lewis; asked Sandler about still playing golf▶ 7:39
Sean FennesseyBig hit comedy movies are hard to imagine now; Sandler's SNL season looks better in retrospect▶ 7:47
Most Rewatchable Scene
Benny SafdieAgrees with opening credits and supports the girlfriend breakup scene with additional details▶ 32:59
Bill SimmonsOpening credits sequence (decided by coin flip), girlfriend breakup scene, and Happy's double bogey at the Waterbury Open▶ 29:51
Best Quote
Benny SafdieDiscussed various quotes including Julie Bowen yelling 'Happy, look out!' and Ben Stiller nursing home scenes▶ 51:28
Bill SimmonsSon of a bitch, Paul. Why didn't you just go home? That's your home. Are you too good for your home? Answer me. Suck my white ass, Paul.▶ 49:58
Josh SafdieContributed to the golf ball quote and discussed Ben Stiller's nursing home scene quotes like 'Get me out of here!'▶ 55:10
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsRichard Kiel's physical limitations from a 1992 car accident - he had to lean on things and couldn't really run in chase scenes▶ 1:00:02
Sean FennesseyNothing - the movie holds up as inoffensive and still hilarious unlike other 90s comedies▶ 1:00:54
Casting What-Ifs
Benny SafdieKevin Costner — Costner would have been too likable and you wouldn't be able to disassociate enough, though it would have been cool if he could have pulled it off▶ 1:01:28
Bill SimmonsKevin Costner — Kevin Costner for Shooter McGavin would have been interesting but ultimately made the movie worse and overpowered it; Bruce Campbell would have been good alternative; Peter Gallagher suggested as interesting option▶ 1:01:21
Josh SafdieKevin Costner — Hard to imagine anyone but Christopher McDonald as Shooter; Costner might have made it too art film friendly but wouldn't work; Peter Gallagher would have been interesting with those eyebrows▶ 1:02:08
Sean FennesseyKevin Costner — Questioned whether Costner has ever been a villain in his career, noting he was in a villain zone around this time after Heavyweights▶ 1:01:54
Dion Waiters Award
Sean FennesseyKevin Nealon — Supported Kevin Nealon over Bob Barker, though also mentioned Vern as a candidate▶ 1:07:28
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsVerne Lundquist — Vern Lundquist - Happy Gilmore is his apex because people constantly approach him saying 'who the hell is Happy Gilmore?' and he gets monthly SAG checks▶ 1:09:12
Bill SimmonsChristopher McDonald — Chris McDonald - Happy Gilmore is his apex mountain, confirmed by his 2017 DUI incident where he tried to get out of trouble by referencing the movie▶ 1:09:41
Josh SafdieDennis Dugan — Dennis Dugan - Big Daddy is his apex mountain because it made $200 million and was Sandler's '70s film' with a character-driven performance▶ 1:12:01
Sean FennesseyDennis Dugan — Debates Vern Lundquist's apex between Happy Gilmore and his 1986 Masters call ('Yes sir' for Jack Nicklaus), suggests Chris McDonald's apex is Happy Gilmore, and concludes Dennis Dugan's apex is Big Daddy over Happy Gilmore▶ 1:09:19
Joey Pants Award
Benny SafdieJoe Flaherty — Discussed Joe Flaherty as a good example of 'that guy' who introduces audiences to actors they might not know▶ 1:15:44
Bill SimmonsJoe Flaherty — Initially suggested Richard Kiel but ultimately agreed that Joe Flaherty wins▶ 1:14:21
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Benny SafdieDiscusses the emergency goalie Scott Foster story as parallel to Happy Gilmore phenomenon▶ 1:31:39
Bill SimmonsWas that the greatest shot Vern Lundquist ever called? (argues for Happy Gilmore's final shot) and What's real life like in 2019 if Happy Gilmore became a thing?▶ 1:30:44
Josh SafdieAgrees Leitner shot is iconic, suggests 2019 Happy would get signed to a hockey team▶ 1:31:32
Who Won the Movie
Sean FennesseyAdam Sandler — Adam Sandler (Francis Bay initially suggested but then agreed)▶ 1:36:01
Movies Referenced (45)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Daddy (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Sean Fennessey, Josh Safdie | ▶ 1:11:45 |
| Billy Madison (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Josh Safdie, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 6:24 |
| Uncut Gems (2019) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Josh Safdie | ▶ 2:00 |
| 2012 (2009) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie, Bill Simmons | ▶ 12:20 |
| Grown Ups (2010) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 17:19 |
| Jaws (1975) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Josh Safdie, Bill Simmons | ▶ 30:36 |
| Lincoln (2012) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie | ▶ 39:52 |
| Predator (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Josh Safdie | ▶ 1:17:30 |
| Cape Fear (1991) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Josh Safdie | ▶ 1:38:34 |
| Creed (2015) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Josh Safdie | ▶ 1:37:08 |
| Dumb and Dumber (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 6:24 |
| Funny People (2009) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 16:42 |
Directors Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis Dugan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Josh Safdie, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy | ▶ 39:07 |
| Kevin Garnett | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie, Bill Simmons | Uncut Gems | ▶ 11:56 |
| Kevin Costner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Josh Safdie | Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | ▶ 1:01:21 |
| Augusta | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:17:53 | |
| Anson Jew | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Wonder Woman | ▶ 18:00 |
| Walter Hill | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Josh Safdie | 48 Hrs., Aliens | ▶ 1:14:59 |
Actors Referenced (56)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Sandler | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 65 | Bill Simmons, Josh Safdie, Sean Fennessey | Big Daddy, Little Nicky | ▶ 1:34 |
| Bob Barker | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 21 | Bill Simmons, Benny Safdie, Sean Fennessey | Happy Gilmore | ▶ 18:33 |
| Shooter | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 20 | Bill Simmons, Benny Safdie, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 5:38 | |
| Ben Stiller | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie | Tropic Thunder, Zoolander | ▶ 18:26 |
| Christopher McDonald | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie | Quiz Show, Happy Gilmore | ▶ 5:45 |
| Sabrina Open | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Benny Safdie | Eternals | ▶ 35:06 |
| Carl Weathers | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Josh Safdie, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Rocky, Predator, Happy Gilmore | ▶ 25:25 |
| Julie Bowen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons | Happy Gilmore | ▶ 40:38 |
| Brooks Koepka | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Happy Gilmore 2 | ▶ 53:58 |
| Darren McGavin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | A Christmas Story, Billy Madison | ▶ 5:38 |
| Joe Flaherty | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Benny Safdie, Sean Fennessey | Happy Gilmore, Back to the Future Part II | ▶ 41:50 |
| John Amos | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Josh Safdie, Bill Simmons | Coming to America, Lock Up | ▶ 25:09 |
Writers Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Josh Safdie, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 27:18 | |
| David Letterman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Josh Safdie | ▶ 1:24:42 | |
| Ron Shelton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | White Men Can't Jump | ▶ 1:01:45 |