Grown Ups

Blu-Ray Review: Adam Sandler, Kevin James Star in Mediocre ‘Grown Ups’

BrianTT — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 17:51:51 -0500

CHICAGO – Nowhere near as abysmal as some of Adam Sandler’s worst comedies and yet also not nearly as good as it could or should have been, “Grown Ups” might make a reasonable rental on a late fall evening but don’t get your expectations too high. Sandler may be trying to grow up with his comedy friends but a lazy script and horrendous direction by regular collaborator Dennis Dugan hold back what should have been one of the stronger comedy ensembles of the year.

Blu-Ray Rating: 2.5/5.0

Dugan has worked with Sandler on the decent “Big Daddy,” forgettable “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan,” and absolutely-awful “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” and it feels like he appeals to Sandler’s worst habits as a comedian. One can see the quality comedy buried underneath the gross-out jokes, faux sentimentality, and horrendous directorial comic timing but “Grown Ups” still had some maturing to do before being released on DVD and Blu-ray this week.

Lenny Feder (Adam Sandler) is a successful Hollywood agent with spoiled kids, a nanny, and a high maintenance wife (Salma Hayek) but he’s reminded of a simpler time when his basketball coach from thirty years earlier passes away and the other members of his championship-winning basketball team reunite for the funeral: Eric Lamonsoff (Kevin James), Kurt McKenzie (Chris Rock), Marcus Higgins (David Spade), and Rob Hilliard (Rob Schneider).

Grown Ups was released on Blu-ray and DVD on November 9th, 2010
Photo credit: Sony

Naturally, every one of the guys has to come with their own subplots. Eric’s wife Sally (Maria Bello) is uncomfortably still breastfeeding their four-year-old son (although the way-too-talented-for-this James is really just here to fall down and make fat jokes). Deanne (Maya Rudolph), Kurt’s pregnant wife, wears the pants in the family and even allows her mother (Ebony Jo-Ann) to berate and abuse her husband. Marcus comes to the game as the player (yes, we’re still expected to believe that David Spade is a player) and ends up hitting on Rob’s unnaturally hot daughters. And then there’s Rob, yet another stupid Schneider creation: A hippie who happens to be married to a woman (Joyce Van Patten) old enough to be his mother. Colin Quinn, Steve Buscemi, and Tim Meadows pop up in small roles.

The plot of “Grown Ups” is its biggest problem. When the actors aren’t being forced into awkward set-ups, the film kind of works. The friendship and cameraderie of these guys can be infectious when they’re allowed to be natural. You could also do a lot worse than having Bello, Hayek, and Rudolph in your female supporting cast, although they’re all wasted to varying degrees. The problem is that co-writers Sandlr and Fred Wolf don’t know how to tell an actual story.

However, Dugan gets most of the blame. His pacing and comic timing are just awful. A bit where Rock comes up with puns for his mother-in-law’s bunion that are as painfully-unfunny as “Toe J. Simpson” is dragged out WAY past the breaking point while actually-funny bits feel hurried. A scene near the end in which all of the emotional subplots of the piece hit one peak at the same time almost feels like a parody of junk like this but I don’t think Dugan was making fun of bad comedies, just directing one.

Special Features:
o Laughing is Contagious - Blooper Reel
o Gag Reel
o “The Cast of Grown Ups”
o Deleted Scenes
o Riff-O-Rama
o “Dennis Dugan: Hands on Director”

‘Grown Ups’ stars Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Maria Bello, Maya Rudolph, and Salma Hayek. It was written by Sandler & Fred Wolf and directed by Dennis Dugan. It was released on DVD and Blu-ray on November 9th, 2010. It is rated PG-13 and runs 102 minutes.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Film Review: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock Act Like Children in ‘Grown Ups’

BrianTT — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:01:25 -0400

CHICAGO – It may be called “Grown Ups,” but too much of the new Adam Sandler ensemble comedy feels like it was written by an eight-year-old boy. The believable friendship chemistry that Sandler has with co-stars Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, and Rob Schneider significantly ups the entertainment value, but “Grown Ups” could have and should have been much better.

Rating: 2.5/5.0

Co-written by Sandler with Fred Wolf (“Joe Dirt”), “Grown Ups” is a cliched variation on “The Big Chill” with a quintent of friends from childhood reuniting after the death of the coach who long ago guided them to a basketball championship. It hits all of the beats that you would expect it to while being often genially entertaining by virtue of the fun that these friends in real life must have had in making it. Sadly, the elements that actually work are off-set by gross-out jokes, false sentimentality, or bits that fall to the floor with an embarassing thud. There may be more laughs than your average Sandler comedy but the growth of the overall piece is still stunted.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Grown Ups” in our reviews section.

Sandler plays Lenny Feder, a bigwig agent called “Mr. Hollywood” by his friends who comes to the funeral “reunion” with his spoiled kids, cute nanny, and high maintenance wife (Salma Hayek). At the funeral, Lenny reunites with Eric Lamonsoff (Kevin James), Kurt McKenzie (Chris Rock), Marcus Higgins (David Spade), and Rob Hilliard (Rob Schneider). Of course, most of them come with spouses, offspring, and subplots.

James’s Eric is pretty much just there for fat guy jokes and physical humor but he also comes with a wife (Maria Bello) who still breastfeeds their four-year-old son. Kurt’s wife (Maya Rudolph) may be pregnant but she wears the pants in the family as both she and her abrasive mother (Ebony Jo-Ann) ridicule the stay-at-home father. Marcus is the player, the one who comes unattached enough to hit on Rob’s unnaturally hot daughters. Finally, the overly sensitive Rob is the brunt of most of the gang’s jokes, not just for his hippie nature but for the fact that his wife (Joyce Van Patten) is a few decades older. Other regular Sandler collaborators including Colin Quinn, Steve Buscemi, and a nearly movie-stealing Tim Meadows pop up in small roles.

Continue reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Grown Ups” review.

“Grown Ups” stars Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Salma Hayek, Maria Bello, Maya Rudolph, Joyce Van Patten, and Ebony Jo-Ann. It was written by Sandler & Fred Wolf and directed by Dennis Dugan. It is rated PG-13.

Kurt McKenzie (Chris Rock), Marcus Higgins (David Spade), Eric Lamonsoff (Kevin James), Lenny Feder (Adam Sandler) and Rob Hilliard (Rob Schneider).
Photo credit: Sony Pictures/Tracy Bennett

Slideshow: 35-Image Gallery For ‘Grown Ups’ Starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James

BrianTT — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:53:36 -0400

CHICAGO – This 35-image slideshow contains all of the official press images for the highly anticipated “Grown Ups,” starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Salma Hayek, Maria Bello, and Maya Rudolph. The film was written by Sandler & Fred Wolf and directed by Dennis Dugan. It will be released on June 25th, 2010.

Synopsis: “Grown Ups, starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider is a hilarious comedy about five men who were best friends when they were young kids and now are getting together for the Fourth of July weekend to meet each others’ families for the first time. Picking up where they left off, they discover why growing older doesn’t mean growing up. The film also stars Salma Hayek, Maria Bello and Maya Rudolph.”

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos courtesy of Sony Pictures and stills are credited to Tracy Bennett. All Rights Reserved.

Grown_Ups_01: Kurt McKenzie (Chris Rock), Marcus Higgins (David Spade), Eric Lamonsoff (Kevin James), Lenny Feder (Adam Sandler) and Rob Hilliard (Rob Schneider).
Grown_Ups_02: Kurt McKenzie (Chris Rock), Marcus Higgins (David Spade), Eric Lamonsoff (Kevin James), Lenny Feder (Adam Sandler) and Rob Hilliard (Rob Schneider).
Grown_Ups_03: Kurt McKenzie (Chris Rock), Marcus Higgins (David Spade), Eric Lamonsoff (Kevin James), Lenny Feder (Adam Sandler) and Rob Hilliard (Rob Schneider).
Grown_Ups_04: Lenny (Adam Sandler) and Marcus (David Spade).
Grown_Ups_05: Lenny Feder (Adam Sandler), Kurt McKenzie (Chris Rock) and Eric Lamonsoff (Kevin James).
Grown_Ups_06: Eric Lamonsoff (Kevin James) shows the kids what they used to do when they were younger on the rope swing.
Grown_Ups_07: Marcus Higgins (David Spade), Eric Lamonsoff (Kevin James), Kurt McKenzie (Chris Rock) and Lenny Feder (Adam Sandler).
Grown_Ups_08: Rob Hilliard (Rob Schneider) tells a story to the guys at the Lake House as Marcus Higgins (David Spade) listens and Kurt McKenzie (Chris Rock) laughs at Hilliard’s story.
Grown_Ups_09: Marcus (David Spade), Eric (Kevin James) and Lenny (Adam Sandler).
Grown_Ups_10: The gang comes out of the house to go on a hayride.
Grown_Ups_11: Sally (Maria Bello), Roxanne (Salma Hayek), Lenny (Adam Sandler), Eric (Kevin James), Deanne (Maya Rudolph), Marcus (David Spade), and Rob (Rob Schneider).
Grown_Ups_12: Friends and former teammates sit in their Adirondack chairs on the lawn in front of the house overlooking the lake while catching up.
Grown_Ups_13: The gang walks through the woods towards the rope swing.
Grown_Ups_14: Roxanne (Salma Hayek) and Lenny Feder (Adam Sandler).
Grown_Ups_15: Eric Lamonsoff (Kevin James) cracks up at what his friend Lenny is saying at their basketball coach’s memorial service.
Grown_Ups_16: Rob Hilliard (Rob Schneider) and his wife Gloria (Joyce Van Patten).
Grown_Ups_17: Deanne (Maya Rudolph) and Kurt (Chris Rock) McKenzie with their kids Andre (Nadji Jeter) and Charlotte (China Anne McClain) in front of the church before the coach’s memorial service.
Grown_Ups_18: Rob (Rob Schneider), Marcus (David Spade) & Eric (Kevin James), Kurt (Chris Rock) and Lenny (Adam Sandler).
Grown_Ups_19: The guys come back from the dock and see Rob Hilliard’s daughter who has arrived at the Lake House.
Grown_Ups_20: Roxanne Chase-Feder (Salma Hayek).
Grown_Ups_21: Deanne (Maya Rudolph) and Kurt McKenzie (Chris Rock) in the kitchen at the Lake House.
Grown_Ups_22: Lenny Feder (Adam Sandler) greets old friend and teammate Rob Hilliard (Rob Schneider).
Grown_Ups_23: Eric Lamonsoff (Kevin James), Kurt McKenzie (Chris Rock), Marcus Higgins (David Spade) and Lenny (Adam Sandler) talk at the reception following their coaches memorial service.
Grown_Ups_24: Marcus Higgins (David Spade), Lenny Feder (Adam Sandler), Eric Lamonsoff (Kevin James), Rob Hilliard (Rob Schneider) and Kurt McKenzie (Chris Rock).
Grown_Ups_25: Eric Lamonsoff (Kevin James) talks with his friends.
Grown_Ups_26: Rob Hilliard (Rob Schneider), Marcus Higgins (David Spade).
Grown_Ups_27: Friends and former teammates sit in their Adirondack chairs on the lawn in front of the house overlooking the lake while catching up.
Grown_Ups_28: The guys joke about Rob’s beautiful daughter.
Grown_Ups_29: Rob (Rob Schneider), Lenny Feder (Adam Sandler) carrying his daughter Becky (Alexys), Eric (Kevin James), Feder boys Greg (Jake Goldberg) and Keithie (Cameron Boyce) carrying the ice chest to the hayride.
Grown_Ups_30: Lenny (Adam Sandler), Rob (Rob Schneider), Eric (Kevin James), Kurt (Chris Rock) and Marcus (David Spade).
Grown_Ups_31: Rob (Rob Hilliard), Marcus (David Spade), Lenny (Adam Sandler), Eric (Kevin James), Kurt (Chris Rock) sit around talking about old times and remembering their late coach.
Grown_Ups_32: Chris Rock, Kevin James with KFC bucket on his head, Rob Schneider, David Spade and Adam Sandler on the set.
Grown_Ups_33: Adam Sandler and director Dennis Dugan.
Grown_Ups_34: Director Dennis Dugan talks to Chris Rock on the set.
Grown_Ups_35: Director Dennis Dugan on the set.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com