One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.

As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.  

Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.

I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”

When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.

See you at the movies!

***Spoilers Ahead!***

119. Happy Gilmore (1996) Directed by Dennis Dugan

The Movie: Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) is a hockey player. Or at least he wants to be. He can’t skate, but he can shot the puck really hard and gets into fights. After Happy fails to make the hockey team again, he learns that his grandmother (Frances Bay) owes the IRS $270,000 in back taxes. Happy is told he has 90 days to repay the IRS or his grandmother will lose her home. Happy takes his grandmother to live at a retirement home with an evil orderly Hal (Ben Stiller).

One day while movers are at his grandmothers house they find a set of old golf clubs and start goofing around. Happy, irritated that they are distracting him from hockey tells them to knock it off. The movers agree, if Happy can hit a golf ball further than them.

Happy approaches the ball in an unorthodox manner. He stands behind the ball, rushes up and hits it. Happy learns that he can out drive almost everyone. After he earns money from the movers, Happy realizes that he can hustle money from people at the driving range. Happy’s power and unusual swing catch the eye of the golf course pro Chubbs Peterson (Carl Weathers). Chubbs tells Happy that he can enter the local tournament where the winner gets a spot on the pro tour. Chubbs explains to Happy that he could get a “gold jacket”. Chubbs said that Happy could be a player he couldn’t because an alligator took his hand when he playing a tournament. Happy refuses, but when Chubbs yells he could make a lot of money, Happy thinking of his grandma decides to enter the tournament.

At the tournament, Happy meets Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald) the number one player in the world and Virginia Venit (Julie Bowen) the head of Tour Public Relations. Virginia is excited because of Happy’s appeal to the average person. Happy wins the tournament and joins The Pro Tour, where he finishes near the bottom but makes money in the process. Also, his unorthodox antics draw the ire of Shooter.

Happy soon learns that although he has an awesome drive, his putting sucks. Not only that but his antics soon annoy Shooter, who believes Happy is a disgrace to the game of golf demands that Happy be kicked off the tour. Virginia explains to the commissioner of the Tour Doug (Dennis Dugan) that since Happy has started on the Tour, revenue and sponsorship is up. Virginia says that she will work with Happy to control his anger and antics. With the help of Virginia, Happy not only improves his behavior, he also becomes a better golfer. Virginia and Happy soon become romantically involved after they listen to “Endless Love” in the dark.

Shooter devises a plan to get rid of Happy. He hires a heckler named Donald (Joe Flaherty). Donald starts teasing Happy at a Pro-Am, where Happy is teamed up with Bob Barker (Himself). After constant nagging from Donald, Bob Barker tells Happy he is a terrible golfer and the two start fighting. This leads to Happy getting suspended and losing most of the money he has earned for his grandmother’s home.

Distraught Happy goes to Subway, where Virginia has an idea to get the money for Happy. Happy becomes the spokesperson for Subway. After earning enough money to buy back his grandma’s house, Happy picks her up and the head to her home. There, Happy learns that he has a chance to buy the home, but through a public auction. Happy is outbid by Shooter and makes a deal with him, he will quit golf if he loses at The Tour Championship. But, if Happy wins he gets his grandmother’s house. Shooter is more than happy (wink) to oblige.

Happy sensing that he needs to learn to putt, seeks out Chubbs for help. Chubbs agrees to help Happy putt. They go to a miniature golf course where Happy learns to find his “Happy Place” and become a better putter. Back at Happy’s apartment, Chubbs gives Happy a custom putter, in the shape of a hockey stick. Happy has a gift for Chubbs too. Happy killed the alligator that took Chubbs’ hand. Scared when he sees the head of the alligator, Chubbs falls to his death.

At The Tour Championship, Happy proves to Shooter that not only can he out drive him, but he has also learned how to putt. After three days of The Tour Championship, Happy is leading the tournament. Desperate, Shooter hires Donald again to taunt Happy.

The next day at the tournament, Donald runs Happy over with a car. Shooter tells Happy there is no shame in quitting, but Happy decides to continue. The assault has left Happy with the inability to out drive Shooter and worse he starts to play poorly. Shooter soon takes the lead and Happy is about to give up. Virginia, however points out to Happy that his grandmother is in the crowd. Happy tells his grandma that he won’t win her house back. Grandma Gilmore tells Happy that she doesn’t care about the house only that Happy is “happy”.

Encouraged by his grandmother, Happy starts to play better. Shooter starts to fill the pressure and finds himself tied with Happy heading into the final hole. Their Shooter makes par. Happy can win the tournament with a birdie putt. A TV tower, damaged after Donald crashed into it, crashes onto the green. Happy is told that he must play the ball as it lies. Virginia tells Happy to putt around and force a playoff after he makes the par putt. Happy, looking at the debris, realizes that the tower is mangled in the same way as a mini golf hole he was at earlier with Chubbs. Happy decides to go for the win and sinks the putt. Winning the tournament and his grandmother’s home.

Why I Love Happy Gilmore (1996): The early to mid 90’s were my Saturday Night Live. The performers on there during that time were my favorite. With Adam Sandler and Chris Farley being my most beloved cast members. So I was naturally drawn to anything that they starred in.

In Happy Gilmore, Sandler’s trademark humor is on full display. It is a man that won’t grow up, who is angry and funny. It also is really weird at points. Not quite as weird as Billy Madison, but it’s close. I mean at the end of the movie when Happy looks up to the sky he sees not only Chubbs in the heavens but also the alligator and Abraham Lincoln. It makes no sense but I laugh every time.

Happy Gilmore is also bursting with one-liners, that yes, I still say today.

“Gold jacket, green jacket. Who gives a shit?”

“I eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast!” “You eat pieces of shit for breakfast?”

“How’s that nice girlfriend of yours?” “Oh, she got hit by a car. She’s dead.”

“The price is wrong bitch!”

I love when comedies fly by. Happy Gilmore never lets up the laughs or the fun, it delivers a hole-in-one comedy experience.