The Happy Gilmore/Billy Madison Collection

Writing in VL-7/95 a decade ago, I had this to say about Billy Madison: "Saturday Night Live 'comic' Adam Sandler (who makes Pauly Shore look like Robin Williams) stars as a moron who has to repeat K-12 [in this] notably stupid flick." A year later in VL-7/96, I wrote about Happy Gilmore: "Adam Sandler, whose Billy Madison made me seriously consider changing careers, returns in slightly less obnoxious form in this comedy about a would-be hockey player who can drive a golf ball over 400 yards…in this par for the course…optional purchase." As connoisseurs of cinema are no doubt aware, Sandler's career over the past decade has been checkered (with critical hits, such as Punch-Drunk Love and Spanglish, and far more critical misses, such as Big Daddy, Eight Crazy Nights, and Little Nicky), but these early entries in the Sandler oeuvre would seem hardly worth the "special edition" treatment, except for the fact that both films have a huge legion of fans and I can vouch that at least two of them (my son and daughter) do not appear to me in need of--as Kinky Friedman would say--a checkup from the neck up. So what do you get for $29.98? Both discs look fine (especially with the sound turned off), with Billy Madison adding a so-so director's commentary from Tamra Davis, 25 minutes worth of deleted scenes (including the infamous kickball bit), and outtakes and bloopers. Happy Gilmore adds even less: 20 minutes of deleted scenes and outtakes. In short, neither of these new editions are particularly special, even by the admittedly low standards of Sandler fans. Optional. (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray Review—June 7, 2011—Universal, 92 min., PG-13, $26.98—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1996's Happy Gilmore features a fine transfer with DTS-HD 5.1 sound. Blu-ray extras are identical to those on the standard DVD release, including deleted scenes (19 min.) and outtakes (5 min.). Bottom line: a solid Blu-ray debut for one of Sandler's better films.][Blu-ray Review—June 7, 2011—Universal, 90 min., PG-13, $26.98—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1995's Billy Madison sports a decent transfer with DTS-HD 5.1 sound. Blu-ray extras are identical to those on the standard DVD release, including audio commentary by director Tamra Davis, deleted scenes (33 min.), and outtakes (4 min.). Bottom line: a sure-to-be-welcome Blu-ray debut for one of Sandler's most popular comedies—go figure.]