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The golf movie is a rare species. Here are 5 worth watching.
In honor of the release of "Happy Gilmore 2," here are five golf movies to add to your watch list.
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I was down to the wire finishing this edition of The Queue, as I wanted to be sure to include my thoughts on Adam Sandler’s new movie, “Happy Gilmore 2,” which began streaming on Netflix Friday morning.
Netflix didn’t provide any advance screeners, which is usually a bad sign. But I’m pleased to share that the long-awaited sequel delivers exactly what fans want, albeit with a few too many cameos. (You can read my full review here.)
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While awaiting “Happy Gilmore 2,” I began pondering a question that came to me earlier this week: Why are there barely any good golf movies?
The 5 best golf movies
For whatever reason, 1996 was the high-water mark for the micro-genre of golf movies, with both “Happy Gilmore” and the Kevin Costner-Rene Russo romcom “Tin Cup” landing in theaters. But save for a few golf movies in the early 1950s starring Dean Martin and Spencer Tracy, films set on the links have been few and far in between.
Maybe it’s because golf isn’t exactly fast-paced? Even Sandler admitted he had trouble focusing for more than one hole while learning the sport.
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Maybe it’s because golf – a leisure activity favored by the wealthy – lacks relatable heroes whose stories translate well to the big screen? It’s probably no coincidence that some of the best golf movies like “Happy Gilmore” and “Caddyshack” are classic slobs vs. snobs stories that mock the sport’s pretentious trappings.
Whatever the reason, golf’s relative lack of representation on the big screen made picking a list of the top golf movies of all time a piece of cake. (If I’m missing your favorite, please email me!)
1. “Happy Gilmore” (1996)
Sandler found the perfect fit for his comic persona in “Happy Gilmore,” playing a failed hockey player with an anger problem who discovers his gift for golf. And in the pantheon of comic villains, who is more snidely evil than Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald)? (Netflix)
2. “Caddyshack” (1980)
Most people would put this movie in first, but I find “Caddyshack” a tad bit overrated. Michael O’Keefe (then 24 years old) is both unconvincing and uninteresting as the film’s nominal protagonist, high school caddy Danny Noonan, and the film is more or less a formless collection of disconnected scenes with their own distinct tones. Fortunately, the comedians starring in those disconnected scenes are largely great, including Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield, and especially, Ted Knight as the stuffiest stuffed shirt, Judge Smalls. (Available to rent)
3. “The Phantom of the Open” (2022)
One of the few true underdog stories in golf history is that of Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance), a day laborer who lied his way into playing in the 1976 Open Championship despite almost no competitive golf experience. (Available to rent)
4. “Tin Cup” (1996)
Kevin Costner and Rene Russo link up in this romcom about a washed-up pro (Costner) who uses the pursuit of his college teammate’s (Don Johnson) girlfriend (Russo) as motivation to reapply himself and qualify for the U.S. Open. (Available to rent)
5. “Tommy’s Honour” (2017)
With apologies to Matt Damon, this spot isn’t going to the hokey, formulaic “Legend of Bagger Vance.” Instead, check out this story from the earliest days of the sport in Scotland, about a father (Peter Mullan) and son (Jack Lowden) and their complicated relationship. (Available to rent)
Play or Skip
Press play on these movies and shows:
- “Untamed”: There’s nothing groundbreaking about this crime mystery, but the powers of its cast (Eric Bana, Rosemarie DeWitt, Sam Neill) and the setting (Yosemite National Park) are enough to make this six-episode series a worthy watch. (Netflix)
- “Ballard”: Prime Video continues to find juice in the “Bosch” franchise, with Maggie Q playing Renée Ballard, an LAPD Detective from author Michael Connelly’s companion series that takes place in the same universe as his novels featuring Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch (Titus Welliver). (Prime Video)
- “Happy Gilmore 2”: The newly released Netflix sequel (full review here), is a lot like its star: A little bit flabbier, a little bit shabbier, but still undeniably funny after all these years. (Netflix)
But go ahead and skip this one:
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“Ironheart”: If you’re going to pick one piece of Marvel entertainment to watch this week, head to theaters for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (full review here) and skip this series, which does a disservice to MIT whiz kid Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) and her journey to becoming an Iron Man successor. (Disney+)
End Credits
That’s a wrap on this edition of The Queue. If you’re a fan, please consider recommending this newsletter to your friends.
Until next time, good stream hunting, everyone!
— Kevin
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