Grown Ups 2

 

So, I had settled in to watch Grown Ups 2.  I had my small snack.  I had my regular sized soda.  And the theater's air conditioning was set at the right level, so that the room didn't feel bone-chillingly cold.  All was right with the world.  Then the movie started up, and literally one minute in, I was watching Adam Sandler getting urinated on by a deer who had snuck into his house when his young daughter left the front door open overnight.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the realm of Adam Sandler.  It's a place where toddlers walk around with bulging diapers (The first time, the diaper is concealing a hidden anniversary present.  The second time, it's...something else.), spaced-out stoners do their business in the display model toilets at K-Mart, there's a running gag about "burpsnarting" (it's a combination of a burp, a sneeze, and a fart), and cops urinate while swimming in private pools.  Despite being 46 in real life, it doesn't look like Sandler feels the need to move beyond his trademark juvenile humor.  And yet, there were a couple sweet moments thrown in amongst the toilet humor that I kind of liked.  This automatically makes Grown Ups 2 better than his last two films.  That's not saying much, though, when you consider his last two films involved him dressing in drag (Jack and Jill), and playing a 40-something man-child who raped his teacher back in middle school (That's My Boy).

The film is a sequel to Sandler's 2010 hit comedy, and reunites him with most of the cast of the original. (I say "most", as one of the first film's stars, Rob Schneider, decided to sit this one out.) The first Grown Ups was pretty much a chance for the stars to goof around in a series of scenes loosely connected by a paper-thin plot.  The sequel follows a similar formula.  This time, Lenny Feder (Sandler) has moved his wife (Salma Hayek) and kids back to his hometown.  His best friends and their families apparently decided to do the exact same thing at the same time he did.  They include Eric Lamonsoff (Kevin James), Kurt McKenzie (Chris Rock), and Marcus Higgins (David Spade).  Just like before, the four friends hang around and reminisce about childhood days, and each of them get their own minor subplot that is neatly resolved by the time the end credits come around.

For example, Lenny is nervous that his wife is hinting that she would like another child.  Eric feels he's not getting enough attention from his wife (Maria Bello), so he's started hanging out at his mom's house, watching soap operas.  Kurt's wife (Maya Rudolph) forgot their anniversary, and his teenage daughter has recently started dating a local boy.  Finally, Marcus has recently discovered that he has a son from a one night stand years ago, and when the kid comes to visit, he looks and behaves like a 20-year-old serial killer.  Believe it or not, this movie is so light and breezy, it can fit in even more plots about first dates, school bullies, over-zealous police officers, a group of psychotic frat boys who torment the four main characters (and whose leader is played by Taylor Lautner), and even an 80s-themed house party.

Grown Ups 2 is frequently crude, and about as deep as a puddle.  But, it's just so lightweight, you really can't get too angry at it.  It looks like the movie is simply a chance for Sandler to hang out with his friends both on and off the camera.  You would think this would lead to some funnier jokes.  The camera could follow these actors around, just letting them be themselves, and would probably deliver more laughs than the scripted material they're working with here.  Still, their friendship does create a certain on-screen chemistry, and I did smile from time to time.  There's just nothing really that stands out about the film.  Unless you were really taken by the first film, and are anxiously awaiting to catch up with these characters after three years, I can't see anyone viewing this as being anything more than inconsequential.

 

I'm certain the movie will make more money than it probably should at the box office, and Sandler will continue his reign as the low-brow king.  I'm still hoping to see another movie from him along the lines of Punch Drunk Love, Spanglish, Reign Over Me, or Funny People.  But, since those films never seem to find an audience, I'm sure he'll be sticking to what he's known for.

See the movie times in your area or buy the DVD at Amazon.com!  

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