Grown Ups

Life here has been very busy with work and family so I have let the movie blog slip but don't worry we have still been watching movies so I have a bunch that are just waiting for me to write up reviews on. This past weekend while we were down in St. George we made a trip to the movie theater and were able to see Grown Ups. This movie was definitely enjoyable and funny, but as can be expected the plot is fairly thin and hinges around the death of their middle school basketball coach and the funeral bringing the five middle schoolers back together. After seeing this movie the first thing I thought was wow this was fairly clean for an Adam Sandler movie.

Of course with a movie like this the acting is not going to win any awards, but they are all serviceable in their roles. For me though I was surprised as Adam Sandler really gave a performance that shone. While the movie has its running gags of Kevin James being fat and Rob Schneider marrying a much much older women for me one of the best one liners was not even delivered by the main five characters but actually the kid that plays Chris Rock in middle school made me really crack up.

It would be impossible not to laugh at the good moments of this film, which seems like a long improvisation by these experts of comedy. There are some great lines and funny situations, certainly. No, its probably not the most memorable film of the year but if a feel-good experience is needed, this one should fit the bill. The cast is stellar, with all of the major actors doing fine and funny work. For the most part, too, they seem to work as an ensemble, passing around the catch phrases nearly equally. This viewer, however, wished that Rock had had a few more lines but he certainly makes the most of what he was handed. Hayek, Maria Bello, Maya Rudolph, and Joyce Van Patten, as the leading ladies, support the men nicely. The scenery, from the lovely wooded home to the riverfront, is a joy and the costumes, camera-work, script and direction are above average as well.

While this is not a movie that I will go out and try to buy immediately but it was well worth the price of the movie ticket. While a lot of critics hammered this movie I feel that those that are willing to go in with an unbiased mind they will be able to see this movie for what it is, just simply entertainment that will help you forget the troubles of the world. I am giving this movie three buckets of popcorn out of five. Be sure to go and see it or even rent it when it becomes available.

-The Movie Man-