Grown Ups Take a Vacation Heading Back to Their Childish Ways

Ever wish you were a kid again? The days when you didn’t have a worry in the world and your entire day was consumed by tin cans and strings? This Happy Madison Produced comedy is a sweet and endearing movie about relationships but loses touch as far as the jokes are concerned.

Flashback to 1978, where five best friends (Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider) wanted nothing more but to win their junior high school basketball championship. Their dreams soon came true. After their championship celebration, their coach, “Buzzer” (Blake Clark) endorses the idea that these boys should live their lives like they played. Allow 30 years to pass and see just how different each of these men now live. From Lenny, (Sandler) the high powered Hollywood agent with a fashion designer wife (Salma Hayek) and three overly spoiled children to Rob (Schneider) the three time divorced vegan peacekeeper who is married to a woman 30 years his senior. Eric, (James) is now a heavyset furniture salesman whose wife (Maria Bello) still breastfeeds their four-year-old son. Marcus (Spade) has yet to settle down and is still partaking in his bachelor ways while Kurt (Rock) is a stay at home dad allowing his wife (Maya Rudolph) to be the breadwinner.

Despite their separation the past 30 years, the teammates love for the game and their coach never changed. Unfortunately, they soon find out that their coach has passed. All five teammates travel back to New England with their families in tow for the funeral. Lenny decides to rent the same lake house where they all celebrated their victory to mourn their coach’s death. Not only are the teammates spending the 4th of July weekend together but so are their respective families. Can you already see where this is going?

Throughout the weekend, the five friends realize that even though they’ve “grown up” it doesn’t mean they always have to act like it. This is where the surprisingly heartfelt moments meet the adolescent annoyances. While at a trip to the water park, the five friends bump into their former championship opponents and the team captain (Collin Quin) challenges them to a rematch. The hostility between the enemies goes on throughout the remainder of the film creating more room for comedy but lacks in accomplishment.

Sandler and director, Dennis Dugan (I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry 2007, Benchwarmers 2006) have collaborated before including the unforgettable comedy, Happy Gilmore (1996). Unfortunately, Grown Ups is forgettable and is lacking in the comedy department. The jokes become repetitive – usually consisting of age difference jokes, fart jokes, fat jokes and breastfeeding jokes. Despite a stellar list of hilarious actors, the poor script doesn’t allow for enough laughs. Although these five comedians do seem to have a genuine bond it is almost as if they decided to take a vacation together and just decided to film it, without inviting anyone else, even the audience.

I did enjoy the message this movie did try to reiterate, however; that life is too short to pass up on its simple pleasures. Larry’s kids are technology crazed and pampered every which way. Larry knows this but continues to give in as his job takes over much of his days. Once he sees his friends’ kids playing tag, telephone and enjoying the other simple pleasures of childhood and the outdoors Larry realizes it’s time for his kids to do the same. It was refreshing to see this because I feel like kids are too engrossed in their iPods, video games, TV shows and cell phones these days. What happened to kick the can or ghost in the graveyard? There is no doubt this movie’s message will leave you in high spirits it is just the getting there that seems to be torture.

Bottom Line: If you’re willing to sit through some lame, immature jokes brought to you by, supposedly, some of our most “hilarious comedians” go for it. You will at least leave with something worthwhile, a heartfelt message about relationships and life. I would suggest waiting for the DVD.

Jessica Aymond © June 25, 2010