Adam Sandler had nothing but nice things to say about MJF's performance in "Happy Gilmore 2" ... and the love's certainly mutual, 'cause the AEW star tells TMZ Sports hearing the praise from his on-screen pops "absolutely" gets him excited.
We caught up with MJF -- who plays Sandler's son in the sequel to the 1996 classic -- out in New York City earlier this week ... and he described it as a dream to work alongside the Sandman.
"He's really like a father to me at this point," the wrestler said.