Hubie Halloween

Now on Netflix.

Directed by Steve Brill, written by Tim Herliyh alongside Adam Sandler, who also stars as Hubie Dubois, a simple, kind hearted, community minded guy who loves his home town of Salem. Especially when it comes to Halloween were Hubie believes his one purpose in life is to make sure his town and its visitors have a happy and safe “holiday”. Hubies caring, community spirit however, makes him a target for ridicule, until this Halloween when a series of mysterious disappearances means the town need him.

If you’ve seen any of Adam Sandler’s comedies you’ve seen Hubie and your enjoyment of it will be dictated by how much you get on with his comedies. We’ve seen all of these characters before, it’s not just Sandler’s Hubie the kind hearted oddball who struggles to get on with others, but also those around him from bullying kids and adults to the unlikely love interest all are familiar.

I’ve no problem with Sandler’s comedies and while Hubies Halloween is not one of his best (depending what you think of Adam Sandler, that may be a warning) but it’s harmless enough with a few chuckles to be had as it parodies some other well known halloween fare. There is also a selection of cameos from regular Sandler collaborators as well as a couple of returning favourites who pop up with regularity and even the standard feel good ending to be had.

Sandler has done some really interesting stuff recently but this is a return to very familiar ground and a pretty average return at that, but that said, it’s light hearted and innocent enough as it passes you by giving a few laughs on the way, I didn’t even find the Sandler comedic voice overly grating!

There’s much better comedies out there, better Adam Sandler ones, but if you’re stuck with a couple of hours to spare and want something that isn’t going to stretch you to far and will keep the family at least partially amused, then this is just fine.