HUBIE HALLOWEEN (PG-13)
Released by Netflix
Review Adam Mast
How would one follow up a mesmerizing, award-worthy performance in a movie like UNCUT GEMS? Well, if you’re Adam Sandler, the answer is pretty simple. You’d follow up that unforgettable turn by getting together with your friends and making another silly Happy Madison Production. I mean, why not, right?
In HUBIE HALLOWEEN, Sandler is in full-on goofy accent mode as Hubie, a local idiot who is constantly the butt of the joke. Kids throw things at him as he rides his bike around town and his fellow locals pick on him constantly. Adding insult to injury, this sweet-natured simpleton is easily rattled making him the perfect target for pranks, particularly during the witching season. Suffice it to say, Hubie doesn’t have a lot of genuine friends but two individuals who do treat him with a much-needed level of respect are town beauty Violet Valentine (played by the lovely Julie Bowen) and his adoring but often clueless mama (played by a hilarious June Squibb.) The plot (what little there is of it) thickens when someone or something begins picking off townsfolk one by one. Will Hubie shy away from danger or will he become the Halloween hero he was destined to be?
Listen…HUBIE HALLOWEEN is silly, dumb, juvenile, and ridiculous but you know what? I kind of enjoyed it. It’s a far cry from Sander’s holy 90s trifecta (BILLY MADISON, HAPPY GILMORE, and THE WEDDING SINGER) but it’s infinitely funnier and considerably more charming than the likes of LITTLE NICKY, JACK AND JILL, and DON’T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN. Miraculous when taking into consideration that goofy accent-heavy Sandler isn’t generally my cup of tea. With this film, though, the Sandman kind of won me over. Admittedly, his offscreen niceness probably has something to do with that. Seriously, the real-life stories of Sandler’s ultra-kindness are the stuff of legend to the point that I’d like to see he and Keanu Reeves do a movie together.
Elsewhere, HUBIE HALLOWEEN is populated by an onslaught of recognizable faces. Everyone from Sandler film regulars (Kevin James, Rob Schneider, Maya Rudolph, Tim Meadows, and a scene-stealing Steve Buscemi) to performers of A-list pedigree (the aforementioned Squibb, Michael Chiklis, and GOODFELLAS star, Ray Liotta.) All of these actors have their own little dorky moments to shine. What’s more, HUBIE HALLOWEEN also serves as a HAPPY GILMORE reunion of sorts. Not just in terms of Sandler and his appealing love interest, Bowen, but also in terms of an opening scene cameo which is best left unspoiled in this review.
Beyond an all-star Happy Madison cast, it should be noted that there’s an odd charm that flows throughout this harmless Halloween romp. Be it the outlandish but endearing little love story at the heart of the movie or a surprisingly fitting knock on bully culture, there are certainly worthwhile attributes that make this movie worth watching. HUBIE HALLOWEEN won’t win any Oscars, of course, but it’s still a fun little ride. And perhaps best of all, it perfectly captures the sights and sounds of the Halloween season thanks to shockingly impressive production design. Seriously, this film–alongside the recently released THEY LIVE INSIDE US— might be the best visual representation of Halloween since Michael Dougherty‘s TRICK ‘R TREAT. Sandler is certainly better than some of the films he churns out on Netflix but honestly, you could do a hell of a lot worse than HUBIE HALLOWEEN.
