There are a lot of things Grown Ups is not.
It is not a story driven by any semblance of plot. It is not a movie made with any serious artistic intentions. And it most certainly is not the comedy of the year — contrary to what so many commercials have advertised.
Simply put, Grown Ups is an excuse for Adam Sandler (Funny People) and his buddies to get together and make fun of each other as much as possible. They each perform their respective comedic acts as one might expect.
David Spade (The Benchwarmers) is the immature womanizer who has no desire to settle down, Rob Schneider (American Virgin) has found a brand new way to be the obvious outcast and Kevin James (Paul Blart: Mall Cop) is the stock fat guy.
The one exception is Chris Rock (Death at a Funeral), whose take on the man-turned-housewife supplies the most interesting character development — although he is the only character who seems to develop at all.
Sandler brings his jaded charm as usual. These roles should sound increasingly familiar, as each actor — save Rock — has played them over and over again.
One-liners abound, with no coherent theme to anchor the jokes. You could argue — and the film’s writers, Sandler and Fred Wolf (Joe Dirt), try to make the point — that each male in their early 40s is learning how to be a grown-up but the fact remains they all act like a bunch of kids.
As to be expected from these actors, there are some notably funny scenes. As Schneider’s character sings “Ave Maria” at a funeral, you can’t help but laugh along with the rest of the group. The group’s reactions while playing arrow roulette could possibly be the highlights of the film. The scenario was funny enough to be repeated in the final scene.
Some of the gags that are recycled over and over again, such as James’s weight and Schneider’s love for older women, were barely funny to begin with and are thoroughly exhausted by the time the credits roll. The number of animal-killing jokes is absurd and may actually offend some people.
Regular Sandler cohort, director Dennis Dugan (You Don’t Mess With the Zohan), doesn’t seem to add much to the proceedings. Instead, he coasts along with the stars and crosses his fingers.
Just about every other line in Grown Ups is meant to be funny and about half of them really are. If you have a fondness for any or all of these actors, and you find their brand of comedy particularly entertaining, then the simple joy of seeing them all on screen at once might be enough to warrant the so-so writing of the film.
RATING: 2.5 stars out of 5
truben@umdbk.com