Hubie Halloween (2020) was a film that popped up early in October on Netflix, and I asked my kids if they were interested. They initially seemed to be, but anytime I asked them if they wanted to watch the Adam Sandler Happy Madison Production set during Halloween season, the interest just didn't seem to materialize. So I went ahead and decided to pick a random November day in the first of the week, considering the buzz for the film wasn't exactly celebrated. I think because Sandler came off such a high for "Uncut Gems" the year before for A24, the thought was he had turned a corner in his career, deciding to focus his energies towards a better class of film. And "Hubie Halloween", made as part of the lucrative Netflix deal he penned for quite a considerable sum, didn't necessarily follow through with such lofty assessment from critics the year before. But the film does garner bonus points with me for its depiction of the Halloween season...the aesthetic, that spirit of the holiday, is quite alive and well. That is very important to such a Halloween nut as me. I assume that was probably a major asset in its favor.
This is a VERY Adam Sandler comedy. Sandler played Hubie, to me, as a poorer version of Billy Madison, reminding me of that goof's rambling gibberish (often voiced loudly and obnoxiously in that 1995 hit), except this time muted with a straight face that never breaks. He has a thermos that seems to have been designed by Inspector Gadget, with the uncanny ability to unfold into an umbrella, telescope, electric screwdriver (with flashlight), etc. He even has an asthma inhaler in a secret compartment in that damn thing plus soup. When kids throw eggs at him, he is able to catch them in the thermos, gulp them, and vomit the yolks while on his bike...that was the opening scene. Yes, the opening scene. I had the captions on so I could understand what Hubie was saying. I almost wondered if Sandler was channeling Billy Bob in "Sling Blade".
Hubie is supposed to be a hero, I guess, but he is always "monitoring", gets picked on by adults and kids of all ages and types, rides his bike everywhere and dodges all sorts of objects and items hurled at him, goes about engaging awkwardly with locals who consider him a lame joke, moves through a party causing those attending to take issue with his efforts to quell the "fun" (beer, smokes, making out), goes to the sheriff in Salem (Kevin James under a heavy beard, with a major mullet, under shades inside and outside) constantly about "criminality", is the butt of "scare jokes" and pranks by old and young (including Ray Liotta who drops him in the grave with his father's coffin!), is oblivious to the attraction of the only decent human being in the entire town (Julie Bowen of "Modern Family"), and despite every confrontation, insult, disregarding remark, disrespectful treatment, and general meanness dished out at him by each and nearly every person he meets during the day and night, Hubie seems to fail to register just how little he's viewed in town.
I have to say it: if you hate Sandler comedies, I can't imagine this will move the needle any in the positive direction. But I have to admit that the film's Halloween design for the town celebration is breathtaking. The way the entire town seems dedicated to the holiday steals my heart. And it looks damn attractive, too. The art direction and cinematography are first rate. I loved drinking in the film. I can still see some holiday fans for the Halloween season making this an annual tradition despite the Sanderisms that otherwise wouldn't be stomached or desired.
As you might expect, there are cameos abound with the likes of Steve Buscemi as a "lyco-thorpe", Rob Schneider as an escapee from a mental hospital, Dan Patrick as the school principal, Tim Meadows and Maya Rudolph as locals who torment Hubie, June Squibb (with her hilariously inappropriate shirts she bought cheap from a thrift store) as Hubie's mom, Ben Stiller as a mental hospital guard, Kenan Thompson as a police officer (seemingly the only one James has available), Shaq as a female-voiced DJ, and Michael Chiklas as a priest (who also picks on Hubie!).
I thought the young cast as Bowen's kids (mostly adopted) like Noah Schnapp (from "Stranger Things"), with Paris Berelc as a cool high school teen who actually likes Schnapp back, are actually appealing. Karan Brar (a "graduate from Disney U") is another Hubie tormentor always looking to start shit with somebody, including Schnapp. What I think works best for the film, besides the aesthetic, Halloween atmosphere is the real feeling that we spend a day/night during October 31st. I think us getting to really live in this town, despite all the Sander comedy broad exaggerated shenanigans, is a help. I still often find the film over the top ridiculous (as intended), complete with Bowen's googly-eyed fawning for Hubie, but that is Sandler Comedy 101. 2.5/5
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