This film wouldnвЂ™t know what the word sentimental means if it came up and bit it on the ass. In this sense, the sequel bests the original because all of the fake and forced sentimentality that grated the last time out has been excised completely. No one really seems to care very much if any of the jokes are actually funny as long as the jokes are there. The film pretty much spends the entire first half of the film setting up long term gags that may or may not ever have a pay off. ThatвЂ™s really all there is with the action pretty inexplicably and highly illogically happening over the course of a single day. They all have their various personal difficulties going on, but they decide to pull it all together on the last day their kids have of school and throw a 1980s themed party at LennyвЂ™s house. His family seems to be doing fine overall, but his wife (Salma Hayek) is starting to get baby crazy again. He spends his days screwing around with his buddies Eric (Kevin James), Kurt (Chris Rock), and Marcus (David Spade). Lenny Feder (Sandler) has settled back nicely into his old hometown and left his former Hollywood life behind. At least thereвЂ™s more interesting things to talk about this time out other than just how abjectly boring it all is. At least I laughed three times in this one at some throwaway moments and Sandler wisely defers a couple of times to some younger actors, but itвЂ™s still useless, smug, and pointless on every level. ItвЂ™s also peculiarly an even shoddier assembly of footage than the first film was, so I guess thatвЂ™s still a huge drawback.

The leads are still coasting on their previously crafted personas with no surprises whatsoever. Inexplicably the first sequel in SandlerвЂ™s lengthy, lucrative, but gradually waning career, this at least feels less like a vacation for all the parties involved. Grown Ups 2 sucks, but even by that bold statement it still manages to improve on its rock bottom predecessor.

Alexander ludwig in grown ups 2