Adam Sandler needs to make new friends. The funnyman/mogul has often used comedies produced under his Happy Madison banner to dole out roles to his less talented ex-SNL chums, many of whom would be forced to find other occupations if it weren't for his patronage. But such loyalty, while certainly laudable, comes at a price. In the case of Grown Ups, the price is far too steep.
A broad comedy that tests the limits of its PG-13 rating, Grown Ups is set during a Fourth of July holiday in which five former best friends gather at a lake house to commemorate the passing of their beloved grade-school basketball coach. Much has changed for the boys, all of whom are now in their 40s, in the nearly three decades since their fabled championship season. During one wacky weekend in the woods, their divergent fates are laid painfully bare.
Each character brings his own baggage to the reunion: Sandler's team captain is now a big-shot Hollywood agent (a questionable fit for his good-guy goofball persona) with a high-maintenance trophy wife (Salma Hayek) and two spoiled sons; Rock's a full-time househusband suffering in the shadow of his successful corporate wife (Maya Rudolph) and her browbeating, flatulent mother; Spade, looking especially weathered, plays an acerbic lothario who refuses to give up his hard-partying ways, no matter how pathetic they now appear; Schneider's a massage therapist who employs a host of dubious new-age therapies to cope with the all but unbearable fact that he is, well, Rob Schneider; and sitcom émigré Kevin James, drafted to the Happy Madison varsity squad after ably delivering the unfunny in Paul Blart: Mall Cop, plays a family man ashamed of his working-class status.
It's fitting that Grown Ups is set over the course of a weekend, because that's probably how long it took to conceive, plan and produce. There's nothing wrong with brainless humor -- it can be the perfect antidote to the leaden, self-righteous fare that so often litters the multiplex -- but Sandler and company seem to have forgotten that even so-called "dumb" comedies still require competent filmmaking to work effectively.
But work seems to have been the furthest thing from their minds. In Grown Ups, they lazily amble through a series of uninspired gags that wouldn't have made the Wild Hogs cut, string together a plot structured vaguely around a rematch of a climactic basketball game, and task director Dennis Dugan with capturing the whole sordid affair on his cell phone camera. At least, it looks like it was shot on a cell phone camera.
Sandler's charisma may well be enough to turn Grown Ups into yet another $100 million hit for the beloved comedian, with audiences perfectly eager to cough up $12 to subsidize his make-work program. But it's abundantly clear that his friends -- and his brand of comedy -- aren't aging well.
Hollywood.com rated this film 1/2 star.
Network Reviews
Grown ups 
Posted by: marshall600 | 9/2/2010 4:11:25 PM
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
Pretty funny movie
Great Movie!!!!! 
Posted by: artzy13 | 8/16/2010 8:44:09 PM
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
This movie was soooooo funny I can't wait to buy it when it comes out!!!
boy nite out 
Posted by: Sokchan | 7/28/2010 3:14:47 AM
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
not just boy that enjoy this but girl too you can not get these five great comdey guys in one movie but they did and it is awasome
loved it (: 
Posted by: AmandaNicole1025 | 7/6/2010 8:49:55 PM
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
i loved this movie. very very funny!
Grown Ups 
Posted by: nneese7 | 7/1/2010 10:37:55 AM
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
Nope - Don't do it 
Posted by: LEXYCAL | 6/28/2010 6:48:16 PM
2 of 5 people found this review helpful.
This movie really was a let down. I barely laughed. This should have been done with one major comedian and a bunch of supporting actors. What a waste of talent. The one line zingers were so tired I was yawning within 15 minutes and ready to leave in 30. There were some glimmers of hope with Rob Schneider and Kevin James but they were lost when the other poopy heads started to speak. Chris Rock needs to work on his acting skills because he sucks. Why do you need that many uuuhs and uh huhs between lines. It's a movie Pookie (he was great in that role) not a stand up show. Adam Sandler is one of those actors that just when you are about to like him he does some poop like this. Rent it if you must.
I knew it hit and misses 
Posted by: Lynndee | 6/28/2010 11:11:30 AM
1 of 4 people found this review helpful.
I really love the cast but knew it was going to be a flop. That is too bad. bummer.
HIT AND MISSES 
Posted by: rawvibes | 6/26/2010 7:10:53 AM
1 of 4 people found this review helpful.
Did you guys write this movie while you guys were filming it. It had hits and misses with the joke lines. The story was simple. Family on vacation from their life , meeting up with old friends. BUT . this one didnt work. This is a talented flop. Looks like this was a after thought from a vacation trip. Who knows. but I'd hold off on this film.
