“Grown Ups 2” – A Hurt Your Sides Summer Comedy

The sequel to the 2010 blockbuster, “Grown Ups 2” follows Lenny, Eric, Kurk and Marcus after they start their new lives by moving back to the town where they grew up. The film takes place over the course of one day, the last day of school. Lenny plans a kick-start-to-summer party and, as the crew prepares for the festivities, things go awry. As usual, the grown ups are up to their old tricks of messing around like when they were younger, but now the kids are growing up and getting into trouble of their own. Starring comedic actors Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Chris Rock, this movie has all the makings for laughter. The only problem is the lack of real substance according to KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Raven D., age 15 whose full review is below. On the other hand, 11-year-old KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gerry O thinks, “The sequel is better than the original, which is very rare for movies” but he warns that the audience is really 13 to 18 due to the sexual innuendos, violence and language. See Gerry’s review below as well.        

“Grown Ups 2”

Reviewed by Raven Devanney

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I really enjoyed this film. It’s definitely one to see if you want some laughs, but as for intelligence or plot, this film is lacking. This movie relies so much on making rude, crass and taboo remarks that it forgets about clever comedy. It is still a very entertaining movie but some of the unrealistic violence is a little bit and seems like a desperate pull for comedic relief, when it really just left me cringing. I think everything in this film focuses so much on getting people to laugh that there isn’t really any true focus on plot or character development. However, I was entertained and think the cinematography was well done.

I have two favorite scenes, and although they are both short, they still make me chuckle just thinking about them. The first scene is when Eric, played by Kevin James, goes to a car wash with his wife expecting to have scantily clad cheerleaders scrub his car. Instead he ends up getting male cheerleaders in ill-fitting short-shorts sudsing up his windshield. It’s so hilarious because the cheerleaders are the well-known comedic music group “The Lonely Island” and the things they so are hilarious. Another scene that made my sides hurt from laughing is when Lenny and his friends go to their old high school hangout  and have a run in with a group of frat boys. It is so hilarious because Taylor Lautner plays the head frat boy and he does such a comedic job of playing a total numb skull that is overprotective of his turf. The boys do this ridiculous handshake and it’s so perfectly cheesy and stereotypical that it makes me crack up just thinking about it.

I recommend this film for ages 13+ because of the rude humor and heavy sexual innuendoes. I give this film 3.5 out of 5 stars because it is funny and entertaining, but I wouldn’t rush to see it again and it lacks intelligent comedy and wit. 

 

“Grown Ups 2”

Reviewed by Gerry O.

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I was holding my breath waiting for this film to come out ever since I heard about it. I anticipated that I would laugh a lot and love “Grown Ups 2” just as much as the first Grown Ups! This movie would make you laugh your head off, and say “awww” a lot.

When I started watching this film, I thought this is probably not as funny as the first one, or not as good. Adam Sandler once again proved me wrong against all odds! The sequel is better than the original, which is very rare for movies.

This funny story begins when it’s a few years after the first “Grown Ups” when Lenny (Adam Sandler!) took his family and his friends back to his home town. The guys learned from their mistakes, hopefully, and everybody has moved on from what happened a few years ago and everybody is happy once again. During the course of the movie, they get themselves into a number of awkward and funny situations, but one of them leads to a bigger issue that makes a bunch of college students really mad. Even that doesn’t stop this amazing group of friends. When Lenny hosts a party, he puts his daughter Becky to bed, (Alexys Nycole Sanchez) and then the fun happens. The college students are under the false impression that Lenny and his crew wrecked their dorm, so they are seeking revenge. That was actually not Lenny’s fault at all! If you want to find out what happens to the college students and how much trouble the guys get into you have to watch the movie!

I absolutely love this movie! It’s funny, like every Adam Sandler movie ever made. It’s a good story line with a number of heartwarming moments where you can truly see and appreciate how much these families love each other and their friends. What’s also cool is this is Happy Madison’s first sequel as well! The movie has adult and kid jokes (mostly adult), which is a very good perk for a funny movie. So, teens will really like it, but adults…well adults, you are going to LOVE it. I can promise that you haven’t had a laugh like this in a long time…

I have to say my favorite scene is when Marcus is inside a huge tire. Lenny is supposed to stop the wheel after like five feet but he gets a call and decides that is more important. Marcus just keeps rolling and rolling and rolling. When he finally stops rolling all the guys are screaming, “Me next”!

Since this movie is a bit adult like, this is definitely most suited to kids ages 13 to 18. This movie is also dangerously funny! I happily give this film 5 out of 5 stars. You rock, Adam Sandler and Happy Madison Productions!

Gerry O., age 11, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic

 

KIDS FIRST! Coming Attractions is a weekly radio show hosted by eighteen KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, ages 7 to 16. These critics win a spot as a KIDS FIRST! Film Critic through a national competition held annually. They review new films and DVDs, attend Red Carpet events and premieres and interview talent on and off the Red Carpet. KIDS FIRST!, a program of the 22-year-old Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, is the country’s most valued source for reviews of children’s media. As a national, nonprofit organization, KIDS FIRST! teaches children critical viewing skills and engages them as jurors to evaluate, rate and review films, DVDs, TV shows, music, games and apps.