In the unofficial home of Halloween, Salem, Massachusetts, Hubie Dubois (Adam Sandler) spends the bulk of his time preparing his hometown for his favorite day of the year, October 31st. He has dubbed himself head of the Halloween safety patrol and does his best to ensure that the residents of Salem have a safe and productive Halloween season. Sadly, Hubie is the laughing stock of the town and practically no one respects him or his passion for the spooky season. However, when a deranged man escapes from a nearby psychiatric prison, Hubie’s obsession with the scary and the occult become more useful than he ever thought they would. Hubie Halloween is the story of Mr. Dubois and his journey toward becoming the town’s savior.
The list of Adam Sandler hits runs deep, including films such as Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore and Grown Ups. As he has attempted to add to his impressive resume, he has had unfortunate failures along the way, forcing viewers to question whether Sandler’s comedic charm has somehow faded and if the genius that was once present in each of his films is unfortunately gone. As a fan of Sandler’s, it feels important that Sandler find a way to get back on track and efficiently remind audiences exactly what he is capable of. Hubie Halloween is just what Sandler (and Happy Madison Studios) needed to replenish the allure of what he was so often able to bring to the table.
What makes Hubie Halloween so funny is the fact that director Steven Brill and writers Tim Herlihy and Sandler are able to use some recycled humor from previous Happy Madison productions, while still allowing everything to feel fresh. Sandler employs a number of his own friends (and former co-stars) to partake in this spooky comedy and bring to life a series of characters that mirror many of the beloved characters from Sandler’s former successes. Much of Hubie Halloween’s success stems from nostalgia as the seemingly endless callbacks to other films transport viewers to a place that feels familiar and comfortable. The comfortability of the film allows viewers to connect with what is being said and done while still being able to, throughout the duration of the film, relax and absorb the comedy without a care in the world.
In an interesting way, the entire film feels a bit like a weird dream where all the characters from your favorite films come together in a story that, in a lot of ways, seems impossible. As viewers navigate the sci-fi/horror/mystery/comedy, they understand that none of this is plausible, but it’s impossible to look away because it’s one of those dreams that you want to see play out. The combination of familiar faces and slapstick comedy helps to create a story that, no matter how ridiculous, viewers don’t want to look away. Sandler truly finds his comedic footing in Hubie Halloween, and he combines years of success into this one film.
Hubie Halloween is not for everyone, as this particular version of comedy may be difficult to accept as genuine, but rather as novel and trivial. The comedy essentially sums up everything that Sandler has done throughout his career and brings together an audience that appreciates Sandler in his truest form.
Maybe the most interesting thing about Hubie Halloween, and this is not to downplay the entertaining nature of the film, is that as everything from Sandler’s past collides on screen it causes audiences to think about his mortality. The film feels like a sending off and viewers have no choice but to think about the reality that Sandler will one day be incapable of performing at levels like this. This harsh reality hangs over the heads of viewers throughout Hubie Halloween but never diminishes the brilliance of what Sandler, Kevin James (Sgt. Steve Downey), Julie Bowen (Violet Valentine), Kenan Thompson (Sgt. Blake), etc. are able to accomplish.
Hubie Halloween is a film made for fans of Sandler’s. His brilliance (along with the brilliance of the other cast members) shines through every single moment of the film. The typical Happy Madison comedy coupled with a supernatural mystery transcends audiences and creates a sense of urgency that never feels overwhelming. The comedy keeps viewers’ anxiety at bay and continues to allow them to appreciate not just Hubie Halloween, but Sandler’s entire body of work. Hubie Halloween is an unexpected surprise as Sandler, and the rest of the cast, create a hauntingly funny world of entertainment.
Directed by Steven Brill. Written by Tim Herlihy & Adam Sandler. Starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Julie Bowen, Ray Liotta, Steve Buscemi, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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