Cajun Man. Opera Man. Pedro. These and other sketch comedy characters created for NBC’s Saturday Night Live rocketed Adam Sandler to fame. But in an attempt to parlay his small-screen popularity into superstardom, this recent SNL alumnus has graduated to films and albums of particularly poor taste.
Adam Sandler assaults sensibilities in his big-screen role as Happy Gilmore, a violent, profane, skirt-chasing hockey player trying to earn money as a golf pro. Prone to fits of rage, the former slapshot artist prides himself on being “the first guy ever to take off his skate and try to stab somebody.” Zero self-control. And he’s supposed to be the film’s hero. Gilmore is sexually promiscuous and generally abusive—verbally and physically.Happy Gilmore communicates the following messages: “Self-destructive and anti-social behavior is good for a laugh,” and “the jerk gets the girl.” Not a healthy model for young viewers.
