Adam Sandler’s Hubie Halloween Deserves a Second Chance

Adam Sandler made a Halloween movie. As part of his lucrative and ongoing partnership with Netflix, the actor/comedian created the Halloween-themed comedy Hubie Halloween. The film was a success on the streaming platform, spending nine consecutive days at the top of the charts. While critics and the wider audience were ultimately left unimpressed, the film satisfied the most ardent Sandler fans with a return to the simple-minded but heroic figures that made his early works so popular.

Hubie Halloween stars Adam Sandler as Hubie Dubois, a timid and dimwitted resident of Salem, Massachusetts. Bullied by most of the town and scoffed at by his former classmates on the police force, the Halloween-loving Hubie nevertheless dedicates his night to protecting the residents of the town in his role as the official Halloween Monitor. But when a lycanthropic neighbor moves in just as residents of the town start to disappear, Hubie must work to uncover a moon-cursed mystery while protecting the town and discovering what happened to its lost citizens.

A critical miss, the film still managed to rank among the top of critics’ reviews of Sandler’s live-action comedies. Hubie Halloween is the actor playing to his strengths, and while that will not appeal to some audiences, the film is enjoyable enough for casual viewers and staunch Sandler fans.

Hubie Halloween Is Too Much to Be a Bore, Not Enough to Entertain… Still Watchable

Hubie Halloween suffers from a lack of substance. And for some audiences, this will not be enough. The thinly laid film dedicates itself to neither comedy nor horror. With comedic gags not strong enough to be memorable and spooky offerings not haunting enough to be scary, the film as a whole is a tepid affair. The story seems to want to touch on such lofty ideals as being brave, being yourself, and the value of community.

However, instead of working on these ideals, the film slips into scenes of practical jokes and introductions to zany side characters who add nothing to the plot. By the time the film is over, no character is different from when the story began. This is a waste. As is the city itself. The Halloween-loving Hubie can trace his heritage back to the Salem witch trials, but nothing substantial is developed from this. What presents as an opportunity to develop Hubie’s character and the dark history of Salem is completely neglected in favor of surface-level cameos that offer nothing of substance to the meandering plot.

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Despite this, the film is entertaining enough to watch. Adam Sandler returns to the good-natured underdog that was the signature of his earlier works. Because the plot never goes deeper than the shallow end, it is easy to follow along even while giving the barest measure of attention. This makes it a perfect film to watch in the background, similar to other Netflix movies and shows. Sandler and Co. are committed to their characters and the story as a whole, which makes their characters’ interactions pleasurable. The film is light-hearted. The absence of excessive gore and tense moments makes it accessible to a wide range of audiences, allowing families with older children (the film is rated PG-13) to watch it together peacefully. This is no insignificant feat for a Halloween tale.

Hubie Halloween Is Similar to Sandler’s Live-Action Comedies

Hubie Halloween is in line with many Adam Sandler comedies, at least on Rotten Tomatoes. This means the film is still a critical misfire. Hubie Halloween garnered a disappointing 52% critical review and 48% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, officially scoring the film rotten. The film received a 53% critical score on Metacritic, with critics calling it silly, sketchy, and overstuffed. Fans of Sandler should be pleased as the actor calls back to the lovable goofball characters found in his earlier career (Billy Madison, The Waterboy, Happy Gilmore).

More positive reactions to the film called it a Halloween classic. Fans on social media have called it dumb and fun while hailing it as a must-watch for the Halloween season. The film has been likened to the classic Ernest films (Ernest Scared Stupid, Ernest Goes to Jail, etc.) of the 1990s. Played by Jim Varney, much like Hubie, Ernest is a simple-minded do-good-er often pulled in over his head. While there have been rumors that Netflix will produce a Hubie Halloween 2, this has not yet been confirmed. Luckily, classic Sandler fans can look forward to his wacky return in the upcoming Happy Gilmore sequel that has been confirmed by Netflix.

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Under his production deal at Netflix, Sandler created a slate of successful films that allowed him to branch out from the wacky roles he had been known for. From mysteries and dramas like Murder Mystery and Spaceman, his recent roles have seen the comedian stepping brashly out of the comedic simpleton parts that he is known for. And while it is great to see Sandler develop in more dramatic roles, his ability to show up in parts that will satisfy his long-standing fans deserves far more acclaim.

Hubie Halloween also stars Julie Bowen (Modern Family), Kevin James (The King of Queens), and Ray Liotta (Shades of Blue). Several high-profile guest appearances include Rob Schneider, Kenan Thompson, Steve Buscemi, Tim Meadows, and Maya Rudolph. Hubie Halloween is now available to stream on Netflix.