Have you seen The Grinch one too many times? Worn out by Kevin’s antics in Home Alone? It’s time for a change of scenery; fast-paced and absolutely hilarious, “Hubie Halloween” is the movie you never knew you needed. Written and produced by Adam Sandler, “Hubie Halloween” brings great, unexpected things to the table. The movie is chock full of Disney Channel and SNL actors that make for a comically genius cast. Cast members such as Adam Sandler (Hubie Dubois), Stranger Things’ Noah Schnapp, Modern Family’s Julie Bowen, Steve Buscemi, Kevin James and even Shaq. The list goes on and on. 

The movie follows middle-aged outcast Hubie Dubois. Hubie has spent his entire life in Salem and lives in constant fear of being terrorized by his fellow townspeople. Hubie holds Halloween near and dear to his heart and believes that as a volunteer police officer, it is his job to protect Salem from the spooky frights of Halloween night. When spooky and mysterious events unfold in Salem, Hubie oversees all the events of the night making sure each citizen is safe and sound. But safety is quite a luxury in the town of Salem and Hubie’s Halloween night turns out to be much scarier than he had hoped. 

On the outside, the movie may seem like a simple, funny film; however, there are many more elements to explore. Hubie has been tortured his whole life by kids, peers and adults alike. He is always ready to help but is constantly rejected and laughed at. The taunting never ends and yet he is always kind. 

“Hubie Halloween’s” casting of characters is absolutely spot on and there’s a little something for everyone. The film is a sort of high school reunion of Adam Sandler’s many partners in filmmaking: from Ray Liotta to Noah Schnapp, many generations will recognize characters from favorite shows. 

Sandler can be seen in all aspects of the movie, it is positively goofy, random and sometimes absurd. Everything in the movie is well placed, featuring a wacky narrator, ridiculous t-shirts and a trusty Thermos. It oozes hilarity and personality and is full of twists and turns. 

The sets, props and costumes scream creativity and attention to detail. Halloween is everywhere and each character’s costume matches perfectly with their personality. Every house as well as the entire town is decorated for the spooky holiday with decor sprawling throughout every inch of the scene. 

Scary elements are there but are not completely prominent. Labeled as a comedy horror, the movie does have some elements of fright but they are brief and often joked about or resolved with some sense of comic relief. The suspense is intriguing and keeps you guessing as any good scary movie should. 

The film is dedicated to actor Cameron Boyce, Adam Sandler’s fictional son in “Grown Ups.” Sandler and Boyce had a very close relationship throughout much of Boyce’s childhood and since his passing in 2019, Sandler has found multiple ways to honor his memory. At the beginning of the credits, the tribute message reads, “Gone way too soon and one of the kindest, coolest, funniest, and most talented kids we knew. You live on forever in our hearts and are truly missed every day.” It’s quite apparent that Adam Sandler’s heart and soul was poured into the film.

“Hubie Halloween” is an absolute treat and is definitely something to scream about. It is out on Netflix now, so grab your treats and good eats and get ready for the Halloween comedy-horror you never knew you needed.