12A, 102 Minutes. Starring: Adam Sandler, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Kevin James, David Spade, Rob Schneider & Maria Bello. Director: Dennis Dugan.
Sandler & co. prove making people laugh is child's play.
Adam Sandler has been splitting peoples sides with his movies for years. In Sandler's films it often looks like he keeps giving his best buddies roles (as good as they are) but for 'Grown Ups' Sandler has recruited an A list of Hollywood funny men to play his best friends in this film.
These A students of film include long time collaborators Kevin James and Rob Schenider, David Spade and former 'Saturday Night Live' co-star and comedian Chris Rock. These 'Funny People' play old friends from school who were part of a Basketball team together. When they are reunited for their coaches funeral they decide to take a weekend break in a place that looks a lot like where John Candy and Dan Akroyd once vacationed.
This is when the catching up begins. Each friend brings their family with them. Adam Sandlers on-screen kids look a lot like him but not like his wife who is played by Salma Hayek. A cast pairing that really only happens in movies. No offence Adam but you can almost hear Chris Rock uttering his famous one liner from the MTV Awards about Jermaine Dupri and Janet Jackson, "DAMN! I had a chance"! One thing that looks like there's no chance in between TV's with junk in their trunk and videos games is the chance of these kids exploring the beautiful, great outdoors that's around them. One of Sandlers sons doesn't even know how to throw a stone but as the weekend gets stretched into a mini-holiday this may all change.
Hilarity ensues throughout the break with Schenider's girlfriend and daughters, trips to the water park and a Basketball rematch that isn't exactly, Lakers/Celtics, (nice fundamentals though guys) but makes for one of the more entertaining scenes.
This film is hilarious and heart warming at times. It's a little too long however and some jokes are accompanied with an unnecessary 'That was a good one', re-assurance. With that being said however this film is extremely enjoyable. Even with a few mis-fires there's nothing like it when some of the gags hit home. The film is also full of 'Hallmark' moments that would make Sandlers Longfellow Deeds character proud. Plus the physical gags from Kevin James are as hilarious as his ones in 'Hitch'. Seeing him handle a rope, a jet-ski and a dismount from a pool so awkwardly are among the funniest things in this comedy that really is enjoyable for the whole family. TIM DAVID HARVEY
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