'Hubie Halloween' Review: Sandler's Newest Netflix Feature Is More Trick Than Treat
Move over Boo 2! A Madea Halloween there’s a new Halloween Comedy in town for some reason. During last year’s Oscar campaign Adam Sandler vowed to make the worst film imaginable if he didn’t receive a nomination for best actor. Our dearest Sandman was snubbed for his role in Uncut Gems and the ground world for the worst movie was laid. Known for his notoriously bad comedies and Razzie award wins, the thought of a self-aware Sandler making such a film piqued the interest of many. Once the trailer for Hubie Halloween dropped, a cold chill rushed down millions of spines wondering if the time for the worst film had come. Nervous, excited, and a little scared audiences braced themselves for a viewing experience that would potentially top The Room
I am sad to report that Hubie Halloween is not said film that the Sandman’s prophecy foretold. We still have to anxiously wait for the day Sandler destroys the state of cinema with whatever twisted monster he has stored in his mind. For now, all that we’re left with is a mediocre Halloween film with way too long of a runtime.
Coming from the Happy Madison Minds, Hubie Halloween has officially arrived this spooky season. Adam Sandler puts on a new silly voice in the role of Hubie Dubois, a grown man living with his mother whose greatest aspirations in life is to make Halloween fun and safe for everyone in his hometown of Saleem Massachusetts. Still carrying the cruel genes of their “witch” burning ancestors, everyone in the town of Salem bullies Hubie, never missing the opportunity to call him “Pubey” or throw something at his head. However, once locals start going missing on an especially eerie Halloween, Hubie does his best Red-Nosed Reindeer impression and it’s up to him to save the day and the lives of people who used to laugh and call him names.
Hubie Halloween is like a themed Adam Sandler Rorschach test as it is exactly what you think it is. If you think of it as a light-hearted family holiday romp, then it is precisely that. If it seems like a juvenile excuse for Sandler and his friends to make fart jokes for millions of Netflix’s dollars, you are absolutely correct in that assumption. Hubie Halloween is everything that still warms your heart about Sandler, while also being everything that makes you roll your eyes. Unfortunately, Hubie is more trick than treat and another addition in the line of failed Halloween specials.
Adam Sandler’s Netflix films are like Branson, Missouri. Once you get past the cheesy stupid offensive parts, there might be one or two things you might enjoy. Hubie Halloween’s heart and optimistic tone is its saving grace. The comedy falls flat ninety percent of the time, so it’s at least endearing to see a film focus on its positive view in the middle of a very negative time. Director Steven Brill and writers Tim Herlihy and Sandler himself, clearly care about the film's message of acceptance and being the bigger person. Though strained with unnecessary but expected graphic poop jokes, Hubie never loses its positive tone. Even with an all-star cast of comedic actors struggle to keep the film afloat, the themes and attitude of “never taking itself too seriously” prevents Hubie from being the Halloween horror it could have been.
It’s difficult to determine who the target audience for this film is. Many problems lay with this as the film is convoluted by an imbalance of humor and storylines. Far too childish to cater towards the Sandler fans of the 90s, one would think this is a children’s film with a bit of an edge. In fact, the film’s significant motif is a magical thermos that works like Batman’s tool kit. However, there is a lot more than just a little edge in the film’s crude humor. Hubie Halloween has dirty jokes that would make anyone blush on a playground, making them especially shocking to hear in a film about a strange man with a silly voice saving trick or treaters. Uncut Gems may be in the swearing record books for the amount of time using the F-Word in a movie, while Hubie is probably there for the number of times a character obnoxiously screamed “Boner.” This inconsistency in the humor is an issue in many of Sandler's comedies, but is especially prevalent in this one, as it holds back the film from being slightly better than mediocre.
Let’s not call a ghost a ghoul, the actors do a poor job in the film. They're not in a position to show off their best acting chops, but there are so many instances of great comedic actors completely missing the mark. Sandler gives his all as Hubie, but even though the character is made to be the lovable screw-up, the voice is too grating to get past. The rest of the ensemble includes Kevin James, Julie Bowen, Ray Liotta, Steve Buscemi, Maya Rudolph, Tim Meadows, George Wallace, and the beloved Shaquille O’Neal. Even with an absurd premise and a script of jokes that don’t work, there was still potential for this cast to salvage some and stand out with individual performances. This ultimately proves to not be the case, as the performer's energy and styles clash with one another. It was if each actor read the lines for the first time while filming, no direction was given to make it more in sync, and they just went with the first take to wrap things up as quickly as possible.
Though it might not be the worst movie ever made, Hubie Halloween has already been the butt of many online jokes. Perhaps this is the film's intended meta-purpose and we are no better than the people of Saleem who relentlessly harass the poor Hubie. If this is the case, then the film's message is even stronger even though the film itself is incredibly weak. I’m sure there will be many who will find great enjoyment in Hubie but you can’t fault many for not giving Sandler's newest endeavor a chance. The film also doesn’t warrant any favors with an almost two-hour runtime.