Actually Never

In retrospect, I can’t tell if a writing about a series of nuclear apocalypse-themed movies and then leaving that post up top for months was the best or worst idea.

I suppose there are only four of you reading this and you all know that 1. I’m still alive and 2. not in a bunker. My basement office just looks kinda bunkery.

But yes, it’s been a while. I hit the 1-2 punch of losing motivation for all my new year’s resolutions and also not doing much that was both new to me and interesting. But to recap from what I can recall:

• Mika and I went to see Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit. It was real good, but I didn’t feel like writing another concert review where I say “I didn’t know much about him going in and I still don’t but I had a pleasant night out.”
• I tried that viral Dubai chocolate. I like chocolate. I like pistachios. Turns out I like chocolate and pistachios. Dubai chocolate made in Brantford, Ontario is probably not the standard by which all Dubai chocolate should be judged, though.

I dunno. That might be it? Everything else I’ve watched or eaten or done or whatever doesn’t really fit here. Except for watching Happy Gilmore.

What I knew

Basically the whole thing. Hockey player turns golfer. Bob Barker. “You eat pieces of shit for breakfast?” Et cetera.

Happy Gilmore 2 just came out so I watched this one in preparation. I was holding off on writing this until I’d seen the second, but that still hasn’t happened. It was more important that I watch Tammy and the T-Rex and that Ice Cube laptop screen version of War of the Worlds, I guess.

What I know

I suppose this is a “what I knew” but it’s worth noting that I never used to care for Adam Sandler. Didn’t find him funny. Pretty much stopped following SNL entirely during his era. This is why I’d never seen Happy Gilmore or, for that matter, any of his other starring comedies.

I did enjoy some of his more dramatic stuff. Well, I guess I can’t say I enjoyed Uncut Gems – it was an excellent movie that I hope to never see again – but I did think he was very good in it. And I liked both Punch-Drunk Love and Funny People.

So I’ve softened on Sandler over time. I’ve come around on some of his SNL run, and his newest stand-up special, Love You, was really good. And it doesn’t hurt that by most accounts, he’s a good dude. Of course, it’s dangerous to base your opinions of someone’s work based on what you know about them as a person – especially when you in no way actually know them at all – but that’s how people are. Or how I are anyway.

All of which is to say I went into Happy Gilmore with an open mind, and it was… pretty good. It was never likely to be my favourite movie but I enjoyed it more than I assumed I would. Wouldn’t be opposed to seeing some of those other comedies I missed but I’m also not going to make it a priority.

I feel like this is the movie review equivalent of that Jason Isbell concert review I just skipped writing.