Grown Ups 2 is a comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan. The plot sees Sandler and Pals get together again, this time they’re facing off against a group of college frat guys and there is a sub plot about Sandler’s character being conflicted about having a fourth kid.
So, this film has been widely criticised by a lot of people as one of Sandler’s worst films up there with Jack and Jill naturally when I heard this I thought ‘how bad can it be’ and I have to say though it is not offensively bad, it is by no means needed.
So the biggest crime of this film is that it is a sequel that in no way justifies its existence. The drama feels artificial and doesn’t work, the idea of Sandler’s character being upset to have a fourth kid when he already has three doesn’t ring true at all. The conflict with the college kids does not work either, it feels incredibly predicatable and forced.
The humour is less there than it was in the first film, there is still some laughs to be had, but they’re few and far between. This sequel doubles down on the slapstick elements of the first film that didn’t work for me; humour is subjective, however. The best performance in this film is easily Alexander Ludwig, him being David Spades character’s long lost angry son is hilarious.
Overall, there is still some laughs to be had here, but there is no need for this film at all and the whole thing feels forced and inauthentic.
Pros.
Alexander Ludwig
There are still some laughs
Cons.
Doubling down on the slapstick
The drama feels forced
The heart doesn’t land
2.5/5
Reviewed by Luke
Another Millennial Reviewer 