The Antagonistic Protagonist

Good morning Consumers, This is please consume, the film newsletter that has more subscribers than Tony Montana has mountains of cocaine.

Taika Waititi takes a shot at a genre that has been somewhat forgotten since the early 2000s.

Sports comedies for the most part can be hit or miss.

For every Sandlot there are five Benchwarmers waiting in the wings.

We are not here to talk about the strikeouts.

We want to talk about the wins, the home runs, the slam dunks.

Okay, I’ll stop with the horrible sports puns.

Time to pass the ball to Tyler…

(Okay, im seriously done now.)

 Happy Gilmore (1996)

Written by Tyler Clark

As we close out sports comedy week, there’s no way we couldn’t do this week without discussing the great Adam Sandler.

The man is prolific in the sports movie world from The Waterboy all the way to last year’s The Hustle, but above all else today will be discussing his quintessential sports movie.

Today we’re talking happy Gilmore.

The Antagonistic Protagonist

Why does this movie work? What is it about this incredibly silly movie that makes it so innately wonderful? 

For my money, it’s got to be the anarchic joy this film revels in. It is over the top and it openly makes a mockery of sentimentality at all turns.

 It is in many ways, a parody of the inspirational sports movie while also having a lead that you actually want to root for not because of the reasons, the movie gives him that of saving his grandmother's house, but in a way, quite the opposite. 

The film has you rooting for who is actually kind of not a great guy most of the time. BUT! He is at least better than our villains like Shooter McGavin played by the wonderful Christopher McDonald. Or the insane old folks nurse played by Ben Stiller in a truly unhinged performance.

A Case of the Giggles

Now that we’ve established why we follow Happy through the movie, why do we find it so funny? 

Well it’s really not that deep. It is a film that hits you on a primal level. There is something inherently funny about the well timed slap stick, expertly delivered one liners and over the top nature of the film. Not all movies require deep analysis. 

Some stuff is just a good chance to vibe out and enjoy hijinks on a fundamental level. Sandler is just funny, these people are just funny. 

They come at it with the perspective not of “what will make the audience laugh” but from the mindset of “what do I find funny” and they play off of that.

Fun Fact

To close out today you already know what clip we’re going to show you. 

It is indeed the exact one you are thinking of, and yes, “the price is wrong, bitch.” 

But before you watch it you should know that actually is Bob Barker rolling around on the ground with Adam Sandler. Not a stunt double, like actual Bob Barker. He was offended to even see a stunt man there as he already knew how to fight. 

He had a black belt in karate and thus felt comfortable if not excited to do the scene. Also, double fun fact he studied under Chuck Norris. You read that right, Bob Barker studied karate under the tutelage of Chuck Norris!

Today’s Scene