Movie Review: Grown Ups 2

Starring: Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade, Kevin James & Salma Hayek

 

Director: Denis Dugan

In a few words...: More of the same nostalgia/guilty pleasure comedy from Adam Sandler's crew.
 
Rating: 7/10 

Beware: SPOILERS AHEAD

 

I didn’t see the first Grown Ups film at cinemas, and, really, I’d passed it off as being a load of mindless crap. Then, I was on a flight from Chicago to Las Vegas one Saturday afternoon late in October of 2010, pretty down because I’d had an amazing weekend and was disappointed that it was over. The movie choices on the United Airlines flight weren’t great. Basically, it was Grown Ups or a bunch of rom-coms that didn’t interest me at all. So I chose the Adam Sandler vehicle – and was really glad that I did. 

Honestly, Sandler is far smarter than people give him credit for. The movie was dumb most of the time, low-brow at other times, but it was also funny and there was enough sentimentality attached (not to mention a feel-good ending) to put a smile on my face. In fact, it was hard at times to muffle my laughter on the plane. It was exactly what I needed. It occurred to me that Grown Ups was like every Adam Sandler film since Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison. It’s a tried and true technique that’s made him millions. 

I was surprised when I checked IMDB, because there’s an incredible amount of negativity surrounding it. Okay, it’s not an original film, and it’s juvenile, but it’s fun. Whatever happened to just going to a summer film (and a summer-themed film) for the hell of it? Just to laugh and be like kids again? It seems like people can’t enjoy a movie for what it is. Not every movie ever made has to be an Oscar winner. 

Grown Ups 2 is similar to it’s predecessor, except that Lenny Faber (Sandler) has moved his family back to his Connecticut hometown from Los Angeles, to be reunited with his childhood friends and adversaries. All of the cast from the first film return – Eric Lamonsoff (James), Kurt McKenzie (Rock), Marcus Higgins (Spade), with the notable exception of Rob Schneider’s character, Rob. This time, it’s the last day of the year, summer is on the doorstep and the best friends are struggling with the realisation that they’re getting old, by way of witnessing their kids growing up. They’re not youngsters anymore, as much as they perhaps wish they were. They’re old. 

Too old, perhaps, to have a party. Except that’s what they’re planning. First, though, Lenny and his crew have a run-in with some local college kids (including apparent Next Big Thing Taylor Lautner) at a swimming hole in the old quarry, where we see more than we never wanted of Lamonsoff (James). Then, the formidable Cold Steve Austin makes an appearance, playing the role of Dennis Cavanaugh, Lenny’s old high school antagonist, a bully back then who is still a bully now, and before the film is out, Lenny must face his demons. The jokes are dumb, the toilet humour nothing we haven’t heard before, but it’s still funny. You don’t want to laugh because it’s so inane, but you can’t help it.

Again, there’s that undercurrent of nostalgia mixed with the feel-good nature of the film, which ends with a big party on the sprawling grounds of Lenny’s house. The lovely Salma Hayek as Lenny’s wife, Roxanne, is underused for the most part, but has some good scenes with an ex-flame of Lenny’s from elementary school who still holds a candle, apparently, and is married to Wiley (Steve Buscemi, from the first film). Of course, the college kids crash the 80’s themed party – the costumes are really cool – and it becomes a rather ridiculous all-in, which ends with a nostalgic moment afterward.

At the end of the day, Grown Ups 2 is dumb and it’s loud, and it’s absurdly funny. It’s also one of those films you label as a Guilty Pleasure – one to be enjoyed and then forgotten. I had a great time.