Movie Review: Grown Ups Starring Adam Sandler.

I thoroughly enjoyed Adam Sandler's new movie Grown Ups. I did. I can't deny it, although after reading some rather scathing reviews online, perhaps I should keep this to myself.

But still, I’ve never pretended to be a cinematic expert. I go to the movies to relax and be entertained. I don’t like violence or horror, and I don’t like images in my head that are going to stop me sleeping for a week. I won’t see a movie if I know the ending is going to be heartbreaking (I sobbed like a baby in Toy Story 3 last week, much to the embarrassment of my son). When I walk out of the cinema after seeing a movie I want to be smiling.

Grown Ups certainly fit the bill. Yes, maybe the humour could be classed as juvenile, but is it wrong to enjoy a laugh at the expense of fictitious characters?

Grown Ups is about  five childhood friends who re-unite on the Fourth of July weekend after their basketball coach ‘Buzzer’ passes away. After Buzzer’s funeral, the five friends spend the weekend together in a run-down cabin by a lake with their families.

As happens over time, the friends have become distinctly different and distanced as they progress through life. Lenny (Adam Sandler) is a successful agent, married to Roxanne (Salma Hayek), a famous fashion designer, while his friends have been – well - less materially successful. Lenny tries to play down his wealth by pretending the au pair is an exchange student, while Eric tries to boost his standing amongst the guys by hiring a Cadillac convertible and insisting on paying the entire bill for dinner at the local pub, neither of which he can afford.

For me, the tone for the whole movie was set in the first couple of minutes when Eric (Kevin James), tries to climb out of his above-ground pool only for it to come crashing down, sending he and his kids sailing across the grass in a cascade of water. I knew then that I was going to enjoy it. Many hilarious moments like this more than made up for the less amusing jokes, largely aimed at the old and the overweight.

Each of the friends have their own issues to deal with, which I won’t discuss here – what is the point of spoiling the movie, when I am hoping you will go see it?

What I would like to say though is that behind the humour were the quieter, more serious themes of the movie, such as getting older, taking partners for granted, spending quality time with your families, and never forgetting your childhood friends.

If you want a good laugh and to walk out of the cinema smiling, this is a go-see.