Aahana Swrup
‘Happy Gilmore 2′ presents a return for the beloved titular on-screen golfing sensation. Happy Gilmore, a hockey player-turned-golfer, forays into the latter sport with the intention of making enough money to win back his grandmother’s house following an IRS repossession. Soon, he discovers that his long shots and drives pack enough punch to quickly help him climb the championship ladder despite his adversaries’ best attempts to foil his career. However, after topping the leaderboard in ‘Happy Gilmore,’ the protagonist finds himself in a familiar place in the sequel. Gone are his days of glory, and instead, all that remains is an antiquated career, alcoholism, and financial troubles. Worse yet, Happy has lost his grandmother’s house yet again. Still, as the story progresses, fans will notice the absence of a crucial piece of the story: Grandma Gilmore. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Grandma Gilmore Likely Died of Old Age
Numerous familiar faces make a comeback in ‘Happy Gilmore 2.’ Central characters like Happy, Virginia, and Shooter McGavin, as well as Hal L., return to the franchise with the sequel. Yet, Grandma Gilmore (Frances Bay) remains noticeably absent. However, one instance in the story clears the air regarding her fate. One outlandish scene finds Happy reuniting with his old nemesis, Shooter, in a graveyard. Consequently, in the fight that ensues, we see the duo interacting with the gravestones of numerous legacy characters, like Chubbs, Bob Barker, Donald, and even Grandma Anna Gilmore.
Although no direct answers are provided for her death, one can interpret the nature of her demise. In the 1996 film ‘Happy Gilmore,’ Grandma Gilmore was already in her old age, somewhere around her 70s. Since the sequel takes place 29 years in the future, when the old woman would have been in her late 90s, it seems understandable that she’s no longer on the mortal plane. Similarly, Frances Bay, the actress who helms the role, also unfortunately passed away in 2011 at the age of 92. Given her iconic portrayal of the character and Grandma Gilmore’s own old age, it seems fitting that the sequel chose against recasting or including the character in some other way.
Even so, the spirit of Happy’s grandmother continues to be felt throughout the story as her generational house still remains a nucleus of sorts in her grandson’s story. Given the hard times the golfer has fallen into, he has inevitably lost possession of her family’s house once again. Initially, his grief over Virginia’s death compels him to stay down in the dumps for a few years. Nonetheless, eventually, when his daughter’s dreams are at stake, Happy pulls out his golf clubs and decides to once again aim toward success. Consequently, winning back Grandma Gilmore’s house becomes another achievement to be crossed off his list. Additionally, as the story ends, fans can even spot a glimpse of his beloved granny as a memory in the sky.
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