The Bat Cave

Grown Ups seemed like it would be a decent, light comedy, but I can’t really say I was too excited for this movie. Adam Sandler and company are well past their comedic primes. Sandler still has the capability of being funny, but Rob Schneider, Chris Rock and David Spade haven’t really been relevant for about a decade. And Kevin James, well, I like King Of Queens okay, but that’s about it. This movie would have me a lot more excited 10-15 years ago.

The premise of the film is that a group of guys that won a basketball championship as kids reunite as adults after their former coach dies… but the story isn’t important here. What’s important is that we have five guys that think they are comic legends and set out to make a hilarious movie. While my expectations were tempered heading in, the end result was still disappointing. The funniest part in the movie happens in the opening credits (Kevin James getting out of the pool in his yard) and it’s pretty much downhill from there. I’m not buying David Spade as a womanizer. Rob Schneider has pretty much never been funny and his character makes him even more annoying than usual here. Chris Rock, the funniest of the bunch, is basically nonexistent. Kevin James is fat and apparently that’s supposed to be funny over and over and over again… but it’s not. Adam Sandler is the straight man here… the most successful of the group (both in real life and in the film) and his character is ashamed of this. He’s constantly trying to hide the fact that his kids are beyond spoiled and that the Asian girl traveling with them is actually their nanny. Sandler provides the most laughs, but honestly, none so hilarious that I can remember them now.

Even with low expectations, Grown Ups still disappointed. I’m surprised that some people out there are eating this up. I don’t even want to waste too much time talking about it. I’d recommend skipping it unless you’re truly bored. It’s not atrocious, but it’s decent at best.

Grade: D+
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: One time rental at best.
Oscar Watch: Not gonna happen.
Nudity: Give me Salma Hayek, Maria Bello, and Rob Schneider’s ridiculously hot daughters naked in this movie and I’d give it a B… didn’t happen.