I was not expecting Happy Gilmore 2 to be great. The original is a Sandler classic, but decades-later sequels almost never work. Sandler is not exactly known for revisiting his comedies except for the Grown Ups movies. This one felt like it could go either way: a fun nostalgia trip or a “why did they bother?” situation.
What I did not see coming was how much I would be laughing at two people who are not even the main draw: Bad Bunny and Saturday Night Live’s Marcello Hernández.
These were not blink-and-you-miss-it cameos or “let’s check a diversity box” throw-ins. Their characters actually mattered in the story and, more importantly, they were funny in a way that felt natural. Bad Bunny plays Oscar, Happy’s calm, unflappable caddy, while Hernández plays Esteban, Oscar’s wild, unpredictable cousin who somehow ends up in the middle of all the golf course chaos. Together, they feel like the kind of offbeat duo who could carry their own spin-off.
Oscar is the picture of laid-back confidence. He is the guy who can catch casually flying baseballs from a pitching machine with his bare hands, his mouth, or whatever else he feels like using. Esteban is pure chaos energy. Whether he is proudly declaring “I’m shifty” or getting repeatedly pegged with golf balls, he is unpredictable in the best possible way.
Bad Bunny’s straight-faced “Do you want breadsticks?” had me cracking up, and Marcello’s delivery of “I’m shifty” was so perfectly timed, it felt instantly quotable. Their dynamic works because Oscar is the straight man who grounds the scene, while Esteban is the one stirring it up, and the movie gives them just enough screen time together for that contrast to shine.
Part of why they click so well is that both already have proven comedic chops. Bad Bunny’s SNL hosting gig last year was a reminder that he is more than a music superstar. He can really do sketch comedy. Whether he was fully committed to a green face and ogre ears as Shrek or leaning into the melodrama of a telenovela bit, he showed a willingness to go all in for a laugh. That same ability to commit to the absurd without breaking character is exactly what makes Oscar work in Happy Gilmore 2.
Marcello Hernández has standout SNL credentials too. Since joining the cast, he’s become a fan favorite for his quick-witted, observational humor, often drawing on his Cuban-Dominican background in ways that feel sharp and fresh. Live from New York, he has proven he can land a joke with just one line, a skill that carries over to Esteban’s snappy dialogue in the film. In Happy Gilmore 2, Hernández also gets to lean more into physical comedy, which adds another layer to what he can do.
What makes Bad Bunny’s role even sweeter is knowing how much it meant to him. He has been open about idolizing Adam Sandler and growing up a fan of his movies, so this was not just another acting gig. It was a dream come true. The two first met courtside at a Lakers game, hit it off instantly, and stayed in touch. That friendship eventually turned into this role, which makes watching them share the screen even better. You can see the mutual respect and genuine enjoyment whenever they’re together.
And if the movie itself was not enough proof of Bad Bunny’s comedy chops, Netflix recently dropped a video of him reading famous Adam Sandler lines in Spanish. You can tell he is having a blast with it. He gives each one a little extra twist, sometimes breaking into laughter halfway through, and it is just as entertaining as the actual film. Watching him reimagine moments from Murder Mystery, Hustle, Big Daddy, and yes, Happy Gilmore 2, is a reminder that Benito is not just a music superstar doing a quick acting gig. He is someone who understands how to make a joke land.
What makes having these two Latinos in this movie matter is that comedies like Happy Gilmore have historically been a certain kind of space. Mostly white, mostly male, and usually leaning on the same brand of humor. Latino characters, when they do show up, are often written as stereotypes or the butt of the joke. The “undocumented worker” gag, the “criminal cousin” line, the guy who barely speaks English. Not here. Oscar and Esteban are not funny because they are Latino. They’re funny because they’re genuinely well-written characters performed with great comedic timing.
That is not just refreshing. It is overdue. Representation in comedy is not about sticking someone in a role so you can say the cast is “diverse.” It is about giving them material, letting them own a scene, and trusting that they can make the audience laugh just as much as, if not more than, the lead. And that is exactly what happens here.
Bad Bunny could have easily just played “Bad Bunny” and been done with it, but instead, he steps fully into Oscar and matches Sandler’s absurdity beat for beat. Marcello Hernández might not be a household name yet, but as Esteban, he makes the kind of impression that sticks with you long after the credits roll.
Happy Gilmore 2 is not trying to reinvent comedy, but these two performances make it feel fresh. Thanks to Oscar and Esteban bringing their own humor and personality into a space that traditionally would not have been held for them.
Will this go down as one of Sandler’s best? Probably not. But I will be quoting “Do you want breadsticks?” and “I’m shifty” for a long time for a long time. And I will remember that the best laughs did not just come from the guy whose name is in the title.
If there is anything to take away from this sequel, it is that comedy gets better when the cast looks more like the world we actually live in and when the filmmaker trust the talented people on their cast to do what they do best. Bad Bunny and Marcello Hernández did not just blend in here. They made the movie better. And honestly, I hope this is not the last time we see Oscar and Esteban on screen together.
