Grown-Ups

My Rating: 2.5/4



Director Dennis Dugan has brought us yet another star loaded-flick for 2010. This film is pretty much "Death at a Funeral" 's twin brother. The plot focuses on five guys, who, like I said, are played by an all-star cast that includes Adam Sandler(The Waterboy), Kevin James(Paul Blart: Mall Cop), Chris Rock(Death at a Funeral), David Spade(Joe Dirt), and Rob Schneider(Don't Mess with the Zohan). They were all part of a coach's only winning championship basketball team back in the 70's. Now, about 30 years later, they all hear that their coach has died and so they all gather for his funeral. They are all meeting each other's families and just catching up. After the funeral, they all stay at Lenny(Adam Sandler)'s lake house for a couple days. And this film is about their hilarious journey through this time of loss and reunion. The acting would obviously be an important element to this movie(or well, really to any movie). And it was very good which is expected from a very expensive-looking cast. But the vital principle of comedies is that you can't treat them like stand-up. When it's a MOVIE, you can't just build the comedy from one-liners. You need to build it off of the situation that the characters are in. And "Grown-Ups" did a good job of that but it did have a little too many one-liners. But that's when the acting comes in. If the acting is good, then the situation seems real, and that's what gets the laughs. The film knows this and does not defy it. It follows it. The movie was just generally funny.I found myself cracking up in the theatre and there are quite a few LOL's. There's so much creativity to be used with this kind of plot. And a lot of it is done right. There are some shocking revelations revealed between the characters, but they all just end-up making it even more hilarious. But, in the midst of all this comedy, it has a heart and that is shown towards the end as they all learn from their experiences. So overall, good acting, good story, and just another light-viewed funny movie. And I couldn't help but walk out with a smile.
Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Director: Dennis Dugan
Chris Rock, David Spdae, Rob Schneider, Salma Hayek