Hubie Halloween is a 2020 comedy that focuses on the titular protagonist Hubie who’s willing to keep his town safe on Halloween.
Adam Sandler’s films are unique in a way that they’re either really good or bad. He has starred in some incredible movies like Uncut Gems and Punch-Drunk Love, and we all know he’s an amazing actor when given the right material. However, he has also been involved in making some truly painful comedies such as Jack and Jill and Grown Ups. Since the official release of the godawful The Ridiculous 6, his features have been on Netflix lately, and we now have Hubie Halloween just in time for the Halloween season. Directed by Steven Brill, who has collaborated with Sandler on several titles, let’s find out if it’s another monstrosity or surprisingly fun flick that showcases his talent from his SNL days.
Hubie Halloween focuses on the titular main protagonist Hubie Dubois (Sandler) who’s constantly ridiculed by everyone in Salem. He’s a nice guy who loves celebrating Halloween, but he always gets picked on through pranks. Even if he gets no respect from anyone, it’s up to him to keep his town safe from bad things that are about to happen on Halloween.
Hubie is a likeable protagonist at times even if his voice tends to be pretty annoying. Every time he speaks, it will probably get on your nerves. The film has a huge cast of supporting actors such as Kevin James, Julie Bowen, Ray Liotta, Rob Schneider, Michael Chiklis and Steve Buscemi, but no one really stands out. They’re just there, which makes them pretty forgettable as the movie goes on. There are so many characters, and a couple of them are useless and don’t do anything for the premise.
The usual shenanigans that you would expect in a Sandler flick are in here, but they’re not as horrible as some of his other films. Admittedly, there are chuckle-worthy moments throughout, and they might make you laugh. While the attempt at humor is there, it doesn’t change the fact there are still some truly awkward and unfunny moments. Also, the pacing is all over the place. Most comedies are only an hour and half, but Hubie Halloween does feel long sometimes. It’s never a good thing when you start feeling bored at some point. The story tends to be a little convoluted with things that don’t make any sense whatsoever.
Compared to previous comedies that Sandler has made before, it’s actually not as bad as you would think. Is it the worst movie of 2020? Absolutely not. There are some slight improvements in terms of having somewhat better jokes. Hubie Halloween isn’t terrible, but it’s still forgettable nonetheless. The moment you finish watching it, you’re just going to stop caring. If you’re a fan of Sandler, you might enjoy it. To everyone else, there are better things to watch on Netflix. Fingers crossed that he’s a lot funnier next time.