Nutshell Review: Hubie Halloween

PG Score: 6/10

Hubie Halloween is available on Netflix

Hubie Halloween is a decent excuse to shut your brain off and have a few laughs. It takes place in Salem, Massachusetts and centers on the town laughing stock Hubie Dubois (Adam Sandler) as he takes it upon himself to save Halloween when danger arises. The Sandler shtick is in full effect in this one and his typical brand of silliness and juvenile gags account for the entirety of the 103-minute runtime. There are some particularly funny bits but the laughter never reaches the level of sidesplitting, and there are even instances when the punchlines miss altogether. The first half of the film is stronger, partly because many of the running jokes are recycled and aren’t as funny the second time around. Fans hoping for Hubie Halloween to compare to gems like Billy Madison or Happy Gilmore should temper their expectations.

One of the main positives is the extensive list of supporting cast members and cameos. Kevin James, Julie Bowen, Ray Liotta, Rob Schneider, Tim Meadows, Maya Rudolph, Steve Buscemi, and Michael Chiklis are only some of the familiar faces on the hefty roster. Sandler’s daughters, Sadie and Sunny, get a bit of screen time as well. Shaquille O’Neal is responsible for arguably the best (and definitely the strangest) cameo of the bunch. Everyone's delivery and timing is very good, as can be expected, but not enough jokes follow suit. With so much talent on board, it’s too bad the writing couldn’t be more consistently funny.

Acolytes of Adam Sandler will undoubtedly find some degree of enjoyment here. For anyone searching for some comic relief during these trying times, it’s worth giving Hubie Halloween a shot.

PG Score: 6/10 

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