Netflix’s Hubie Halloween — A Not So Terrible Movie
Everyone needs to calm down. This movie was not (that) bad
It was Halloween night. My sister and I were scrolling through Netflix. She suddenly came up with the perfect horror movie that would build-up to a set of — I quote — “truly terrifying moments.” I panicked.
“Wanna watch this one here, instead?” I started pressing randomly at the remote, waiting for something to happen. Hubie Halloween popped on the screen; the movie I watched just the other night — she doesn’t need to know that, though. “I heard it is a scary movie but it is also funny and cool and yes let’s watch it ’cause I haven’t and I heard it’s cool. And also scary. We should definitely watch it.” I panicked a lot.
My sister moaned, “But this movie is silly… is just not scary. It’s a flop.” I tried to convince her, “It is not. It’s cool. It’s fun.” There was a long beat. Damn, gather yourself, miss. Hubie Halloween is not that trivial, right? It does have something in there, be it plot, characters, cast, jokes, Adam Sandler? I didn’t have long to make my point. So I spoke up.
Hubie Halloween does have a plot. The issue here is that it barely holds the narrative. We must follow Adam Sandler’s character for an hour and more while getting insulted and humiliated; while trying to solve a mystery; while acting like a detective.
Long and tiresome? Well, despite what it sounds like, despite these less attractive points, Hubie Halloween settles in for a peculiar comedic-bizarre mood with not much complication.
It is absurd because Adam Sandler wants it to be. To accurately embrace those swaps in genre — still obeying the comedy-horror structure — the film got to be extreme with each of the shifts. The outcome of scary scenes is obvious, yet gives that sense of doubt when building them.
Point one: It is absurd, but it is action-packed.
Catch this: Inspector Gadget is the dummy of a closed-doors neighborhood. Inspector Gadget has a crush on that blonde girl he’s known since high school. Eventually, she was out of league with Inspector Gadget. Eventually, they get together in the end — with a very much awkward first kiss moment.
Why is this so topical, but this movie kind of jumps right through it in some way? Hubie Halloween’s casting process (I’m guessing) was not the biggest challenge of the project. Adam Sandler’s gang is back, and may not be the cause why this movie deflowers in rhythm.
In fact, this network of actors move the picture forward, and here are two reasons why this happens: they are great actors with a diverse background of genres (drama, family, a lot of comedy) and they all reflect the fun they’re having on set (casting friends actually works out well) and they make the audience laugh. We can buy that.
Point two: It is cliche, but it is well-disposed
Hubie Halloween is a never-ending play of gags, hijinks, potty talk, and artificial buffooneries. Not only does this take the audience back, but creates holes everywhere! Doesn’t it feel uneasy when there’s no point in a joke, when all is about who rallies the other character more?
What Hubie Halloween aims with these (yes, still sometimes) ludicrous gags is map out the ending message. And it works (kinda) as a plot-twist to the tone that’s been established throughout the entire movie. It justifies the tone of the movie, and then we’re back to the whole cliche thing.
Point three: It is nasty, but it is light-hearted.
Hubie Halloween may not be a top comedy-horror movie. It may not be that deep or complex picture. It is what is expected from an Adam Sandler’s movie. “Shallow, you mean?” It isn’t.
So, point settled, I clicked on the ‘play’ button, and turned to the person on my left, “Sis, Hubie Halloween. You’re going to laugh. And, yeah, shriek a little.” Lastly, we turned the lights off.
