Warning: This article contains spoilers for Happy Gilmore 2.
After nearly thirty years, Happy Gilmore made a comeback with a sequel, much to the delight of both fans and the original cast members.
However, not all cast members returned to reprise their roles after this long hiatus. Sadly, one prominent character from the first film meets an unfortunate fate just moments into the sequel.
Virginia, Happy’s wife portrayed by Julie Bowen, known for her role in Modern Family, is unexpectedly killed by her husband, played by Adam Sandler.
In the storyline, a misdirected long drive from Happy results in tragic consequences, as the golf ball fatally strikes Virginia, presumably in the head.
This plot decision sparked fan outrage, with one Twitter user expressing, “Why the f**k did they start off Happy Gilmore 2 with him killing Virginia. You cannot be serious.”
Another fan shared similar feelings, tweeting: “Extremely disappointed with the decision to kill Virginia off… Their dynamic could have made this movie.”
Despite the backlash, director Kyle Newacheck, who worked with Sandler and co-writer Tim Herlihy on the screenplay, defended the plot twist, arguing that it aligns with the tone established in the original film.
“There’s always a concern when you’re playing with that type of darkness,” Newacheck told Slash Film.
“But I don’t know, I was never really concerned, because it is the driving force [of the film]. If you pull that out, then what do you have? You don’t have anything real.
“But yeah, when I first read the screenplay, that’s like page five, and I was glued when that happened. So I knew what that feeling felt like, and I knew that people could get over it. You can get over it.”
He elaborated: “It’s not far away from the fabric of the world, because in the first one, his father dies. That’s tragic. His mother moves to Egypt, and then his father dies, and he moves in with Grandma.
“So there’s darkness in the first one. There’s real dark humor. So I just felt it fitting.”
While the choice has provoked strong reactions, it effectively sets the stage for the film as Happy temporarily abandons his golf clubs, only to rediscover his drive after witnessing his life unravel.
Currently, the film holds the title of the most-watched movie on Netflix and has attained a notable position on IMDb with a comedy rating of 6.3 out of 10.