Grown Ups

 Director: Dennis Dugan

Run Time: 1 Hour 42 Minutes

Rating: PG-13

The Bouw-Man.

No matter what the final outcome is for this film, whether it’s successful financially or even critically, there’s something comforting seeing these guys back together again.  Maybe it’s because they have somewhat represented my generation from a comedic standpoint for years, but I’m really rooting for this one to make it in today’s film world.  It appears from the preview that you’re going to get a lot of the same from these “Saturday Night Live” alums (plus Kevin James).  There’s going to be plenty of sex jokes, toilet humor, slapstick and other immature behavior from these 40-something actors who remind us not to ever lose the child inside.  They all come together after years apart to discover they’re still pretty much the same, despite being older, married and with kids.  Reminiscing with old friends about the times of our youth is something we all do, so what better way to spend 100 minutes at the movies than with a group that has entertained us for nearly 20 years.  Now, if you’re not fan of Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider and Kevin James, just go ahead and omit everything I have just written. 

Prediction.

The summer is still looking for that one good comedy that transcends the season.  Last year it was “The Hangover,” and in previous years we had films like “Wedding Crashers” and “The 40-Year Old Virgin.”  The one thing all three of these had, however, was “shock value.”  It doesn’t appear “Grown Ups” will be able to fall into that category with its “PG-13” rating.  It will have to rely on bringing back the sentimental audiences who have flocked to see these SNL favorites for years, plus some new fans to discover their like-able crudeness.  I’m hopeful it will hit $35 million opening weekend, which will put it in line with some of Adam Sandler’s other recent summer comedies (“You Don’t Mess With the Zohan,” “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry,” “Click”).    

Opening Weekend Gross: $35 Million

Noodles.

This one has me stumped. Grown Ups looks like it could be a fun, family oriented film with enough laughs to draw some word of mouth business. But...aside from the A-list cast there doesn't seem to be much in the way of story showing up in the trailer. I understand that its fun to watch most of these guys like Rock and Sandler, for instance, just riff on this or that but are there enough good story elements to make an interesting movie? I don't know.

Also I would like to take this time to ask Hollywood to get off the backs of our older women. I for one am so tired of the cliche' idea that a young man (Rob Schneider - although at this point he ain't all that young) and an older woman who are active sexually is some kind of cringe inducing act. When Schneider says he's not sorry a mature woman is his wife and then leans in to kiss her, they drop out the sound as if to say "Insert your groans here." I love women. Young, old, thin, thick, black, white, Asian, Latina, etc. Beauty is beauty at any age. The only thing better than one woman is two as far as I'm concerned.

Prediction.

If this was 5 years ago I would say that Grown Ups would be a huge hit at the box office. But one thing about Sandler pictures, he seems to do better when he goes more slapstick like Zohan ($100 Million)  versus more grounded movies like Funny People ($51 Million). Since this falls more into the realistic Sandler genre, I think it will finish the weekend at $38 Million.

Opening Weekend: Gross: $38 Million

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