Grown Ups

Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider and David Spade are friends, and it is their camaraderie that makes Grown Ups work. It is not the funniest movie that I have ever seen, but it is sweet, amusing and has plenty of laughs. It is amazing that the film works at all when you consider the balancing act that director Dennis Dugan (Don’t Mess with the Zohan) had to pull off to blend all of these comics together. The film is uneven, but each star gets a chance to shine at least once. And when you add in the wives and the supporting players, that’s a pretty big talent pool.

In the film, the grown ups are five men who have been reunited to bury their beloved coach. At age twelve, Coach Buzzer, Blake Clark, led them to a championship victory in basketball and inspired them to take their winning attitude into adulthood. Some have been more successful than others and now thirty years later, they are together again. They fall right back into their childish ways, mocking each other, teasing and cutting each other down. It is a bond of friendship that can never be broken and being back home in the midst of their triumph, the coach’s words ring in their ears. They are retrospective, pensive and wondering if they have let their coach down. Each man is left to examine his own life, but the navel-gazing doesn’t last long. Humor is one fart joke away and the introspection is just a device to fuel the comedy.

If you like prat falls, gassy old ladies, wedgies, cute kids and lots of booby jokes, you are going to like this film. If you require witty dialogue and clever send ups, this film is a little too shallow. But there is enough here to make you laugh and the movie is family friendly. You can take the kids without being bored out of your mind and if the comedy is not your cup of tea you can play the game, Spot the Comedian. This film is full of character actors and comedians from the past. Just scan the crowds and you’ll find the likes of Steve Buscemi, Tim Meadows, Norm MacDonald and many more. The wives alone contain the talents of Salma Hayek, Maria Bello, Maya Rudolph, and Joyce Van Patton. This film is like a shotgun of comedy, it fires both barrels and at least one bullet will hit its mark. It’s comedy with a message, Adam Sandler style. If you are a fan, you are going to love this film.

Rating: First Run Comedy: the more the merrier