Grown Ups 2 Review: What Worked And What Didn't

Rajiv Sharma

5 min read

Post on May 11, 2025

4.4

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What Worked in Grown Ups 2

The Cast's Chemistry: A Foundation of Laughter

The undeniable strength of Grown Ups 2 lies in the chemistry between its core cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, and David Spade. Their comedic timing is impeccable, bouncing off each other with effortless synergy. The film's funniest moments often stem from their spontaneous interactions and shared history, creating a familiarity that translates to genuine laughter for the audience.

• Specific examples: The scene in the high school cafeteria perfectly showcases their comedic timing and playful bickering. The water balloon fight, though somewhat predictable, relies heavily on the cast's ability to sell the slapstick.
• Stand-out performances: While Sandler carries the film, Rock's deadpan delivery consistently delivers strong comedic punches. Spade, in his usual cynical role, provides effective contrast.
• Comedic style: The film's comedic style is broad and relies heavily on physical humor and witty banter, a style that works well for this group and their established fanbase.

Nostalgic Appeal and Childish Humor: A Double-Edged Sword

Grown Ups 2 leans heavily on nostalgic appeal and childish humor. This approach, while potentially divisive, works surprisingly well for a significant portion of the audience. The film taps into a shared experience of carefree childhood antics, allowing viewers to vicariously enjoy the characters' escapades.

• Effective humor: Scenes involving the children's antics and the men's attempts to relive their youth often land successfully, prompting genuine laughs.
• Successful comedic moments: The sequence where the group tries to navigate the complexities of modern parenting results in some of the movie's most memorable and funny scenes.
• Nostalgic impact: The film’s nostalgic elements create a sense of comfort and familiarity, allowing viewers to escape into a world of simple, albeit often chaotic, fun.

Supporting Characters and Performances: Adding to the Mix

While the main four carry the film, the supporting cast members make significant contributions. The children, though sometimes stereotypical, contribute to the overall comedic chaos, and the portrayal of their parents (especially Salma Hayek) adds an interesting dynamic.

• Stand-out supporting performances: Supporting characters add to the comedic chaos, offering opportunities for additional laughs and enriching the overall narrative.
• Driving the plot: While the plot itself is weak, the supporting characters contribute to the series of comedic events that make up the film.
• Main and supporting cast dynamic: The interactions between the main and supporting casts are often the most entertaining, creating a wider range of comedic scenarios.

What Didn't Work in Grown Ups 2

Over-the-Top Humor and Lack of Substance: A Recipe for Disappointment

Grown Ups 2 suffers from an over-reliance on crude humor and a complete lack of substance. Many jokes fall flat, relying on shock value rather than clever wit. The thin plotline provides little in the way of character development or emotional depth.

• Humor that fell flat: Several scenes aimed at crude humor feel forced and detract from the overall comedic effect.
• Lack of depth: The characters remain largely undeveloped, relying on established stereotypes rather than genuine growth or complexity.
• Impact of over-the-top comedy: The reliance on over-the-top comedy ultimately hinders the film's potential, leaving the audience feeling unsatisfied.

Predictable Plot and Weak Narrative: A Case of Déjà Vu

The film’s predictability is its biggest downfall. The plot points are easily guessed, leaving little room for surprise or genuine excitement. The narrative structure feels weak and lacks cohesion, making the film feel disjointed.

• Predictable plot points: The film's structure and plot points are easily anticipated, resulting in a lack of suspense and intrigue.
• Easily guessed plot elements: The resolution to most conflicts is predictable, undermining the comedic impact.
• Narrative structure and weaknesses: The movie lacks a strong narrative arc, making it feel more like a series of loosely connected scenes rather than a cohesive story.

Repetitive Jokes and Gags: A Case of Too Much of a Good Thing

The overuse of similar jokes and comedic devices throughout the film becomes tiresome. The repetitiveness diminishes the impact of the humor, leaving the audience feeling unengaged.

• Specific examples of repetitive jokes: Certain gags are repeated multiple times, lessening their impact with each iteration.
• Impact of repetitions: The repetitive nature of the humor detracts from the overall enjoyment, making the movie feel predictable and uninspired.
• Comedic impact of repetitiveness: The overall comedic effect is negatively affected by the repetition, leaving a sense of unoriginality.

Conclusion:

This Grown Ups 2 review highlights a film with undeniable strengths – namely the cast's chemistry and nostalgic appeal – but ultimately hampered by predictable plot points, repetitive jokes, and a lack of substance. While there are moments of genuine laughter, the over-reliance on crude humor and weak narrative ultimately leaves the viewer wanting more. In short, Grown Ups 2 is a mixed bag, delivering some laughs but ultimately failing to reach the heights of its predecessor.

What are your thoughts on Grown Ups 2? Do you agree with this Grown Ups 2 movie review? Share your opinions in the comments section below! And be sure to check out other reviews of Adam Sandler movies to see how this one stacks up against his other comedic endeavors!