Sometimes you can’t tell if “Grown Ups” is a fictional lowbrow comedy or a reality show. The cast of early-1990s “Saturday Night Live” alumni and friends seems to be on home turf. In a picturesque lakeside locale, the fortysomething “grown-ups” got to hang out together for a few weeks under scripted orders to make cinematic hay out of a continual barrage of bathroom bodily functions, traumatic physical injury, ridicule of the elderly and verbal abuse of each other.
The guys look as if they are having a great time; and, they even got paid for the privilege. Adam Sandler and his likable posse must be smart to have figured out such a working vacation. Too bad their buddy farce isn’t that clever.
You either like this kind of locker room clowning or you don’t. Chances are, if you do, nothing anyone says could discourage you away from the gas-passing, young chick buttocks-ogling, kicks to the crotch, foot impaling and other such cheesy plays to garner giggles.
If you go
‘Grown Ups’
2 out of 5 Stars
Stars: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider
Director: Dennis Dugan
Rated PG-13 for crude material including suggestive references, language and some male rear nudity
Running Time: 102 minutes
Sandler’s audience will be glad to know that his trademark style has changed little over time. The star rarely even varies his directors on the films, like this one, which he also co-writes and produces. Thus, Dennis Dugan (1996’s “Happy Gilmore,” 2008’s “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan,” etc.) steers the madness for him again here. “SNL”-ers Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider and newer Sandler flunky Kevin James join in, portraying very loose variations of their own personalities as childhood pals. The plot revolves around a summer weekend reunion when the death of an old coach brings them back together after 30 years. It’s sort of like “The Big Chill” — except those old baby boomers weren’t mooning flabby man-cheeks, slamming into trees, peeing in the pool and frying bacon on a bug zapper.
Instead, here, with wives and kids in tow, the main characters wax nostalgic and ponder adulthood in between the gross-outs and slapstick. But because the story and characters are so underwritten, the superficial screenplay finds little wit or insight in the premise. It serves instead as a vehicle for a real-life cadre of comedians to take turns doing bits to limited success.
The female sidekicks function mostly as their foils, played by Salma Hayek, Maria Bello and Maya Rudolph.
On a positive note: The child actors are very cute. And amid the stunted adolescence, “Grown Ups” portrays a genuine example of close male friendship.
