Sections

Comedian Sandler moves from the small screen to the big time with new record, movie

By Jodi Cohen
Daily Arts Writer

Adam Sandler always seems to be having a good time.

In the comedian's "Opera Man" and "Cajun Man" sketches on "Saturday Night Live," Sandler's characters always provided audiences with some of television's most original humor -- and some of the biggest laughs.

In his first big-screen performance in the title role in "Billy Madison," Sandler retained some of his comedic trademarks. As Billy, Sandler sported that innocent, naive grin throughout the movie.

That role was fun, but Sandler said filming his latest movie, "Happy Gilmore" (in theaters Friday), was one of his most enjoyable experiences as an actor, singer and comedian.

"I'll never have more fun taping a movie," he said in a telephone interview last week.

Who wouldn't have a good time making a movie with close friends -- especially if you get to play golf during the shooting?

"Every day we were on the green chipping. It was 20 minutes of work and then 20 minutes of golf. That was our schedule," Sandler said, laughing in his innocent, childlike way.

In this comedy, Sandler plays Gilmore, whose dreams of playing professional hockey are thwarted by his inability to skate. But when Happy realizes his powerful slapshot can be used in another sport -- golf -- his life is on the upswing.

With his 400-yard shot, Sandler teesoff right into a pro golf tour. Although Happy now plays a different sport, his hockey attitude remains, putting a twist on the well-mannered game of golf.

"He still has a hockey player's mentality so he gets in fist fights a lot and curses on the course," Sandler said.

Sandler said one of the movie's most memorable scenes occurs when Gilmore gets into a fight with Bob Barker, host of the TV game show "The Price Is Right." Sandler sympathizes with his character's aggression-control problems.

"I have a short temper. I let it out every time I make a lousy shot," Sandler said, adding that he is different from the characters he plays.

"I guess I have a temper in real life sometimes too. Happy lets his out more."

The "Saturday Night Live" alum said "Happy Gilmore" stars many of his friends, "all cool people," including Christopher McDonald, Carl Weathers, Kevin Nealon, and Ben Stiller.

"Shooting it ("Happy Gilmore") was a good time. I got to be loose and have fun," he said.

"I got to golf all day long and practice my short game. By the end of the summer, I was chipping so much, I got to be good at it."

Sandler said he based "Happy Gilmore" on a childhood friend who didn't know much about golf, but who could hit the ball really far. Like Gilmore, he enjoys golfing, but he grew up playing baseball, basketball and skiing.

Sandler also served as the movie's screenwriter, along with Tim Herlihy (the team also wrote "Billy Madison"). Sandler said he is now working on another movie with Herlihy, his college roommate at New York University, where Sandler earned a degree in fine arts.

This should be a big week for Adam Sandler, not just because it marks his continued rise from NYU student to major movie star, but for other reasons as well.

Sandler's second album, "What the Hell Happened to Me?," is slated for release this week. This recording contains seven new songs and 13 comedy sketches. Sandler's first album, "They're All Gonna Laugh at You," was a hit, mostly with the college crowd.

He said he has already received a variety of responses to the album's feature track, "The Chanukah Song," which was played on radio stations around the country during the holiday season.

"It was a fun experience to have 70-year-old guys coming up to you and saying they heard it," Sandler said about the song's popularity.

If the feature song, which was played more than the classic "Jingle Bells" in many areas during the past holiday season, is any indication of the album's popularity, then Sandler's latest recordings should sell out quickly.

But Sandler warned that some of the other lyrics, such as those in "Sex in the Weight Room," are not as calm as the hysterical holiday hit.

"The rest of it is a little bit rougher than `The Chanukah Song,'" he said. "There is some language that you should be careful about getting yourself into."

Sandler said he is getting ready to shoot a movie with Damon Wayans titled "Bullet Proof."