Review of Grown Ups 2 (2013) by Mike D — 12 Jan 2014

A good deal of the success experienced by 'Grown Ups' was due to the fact that it was an Adam Sandler film with heart and a significant family theme rather than the usual cheap gags that flood Happy Madison movies.

Unfortunately, 'Grown Ups 2' does not share in these aspects, for the most part, and a shoddy storyline further weakens it. True, reprised roles from Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Maya Rudolph, Maria Bello and Salma Hayak are welcome, as are supporting newcomer roles from former 'SNL' greats Tim Meadows ("whaaaaaaat!?!?!") and Jon Lovitz, and of course, Shaquille O'Neal himself.

But the fact that pretty much nothing happens during the entire course of the movie is hard to ignore. There is a forced reunion between Spade's Marcus and his troublemaker teenage son, a budding romance between the daughter of Rock's Kurt and class clown Bumpty, and weird, crazy love interests on the side that just make things plain old awkward.

And then there's a nonsensical rivalry between the local college kids (led by the pseudo ninja Taylor Lautner) and the older townies. Basically, 'Grown Ups 2' is a compilation of mess after mess after mess - there are really no redeeming qualities, and the humor is pretty sour.