Grown Ups 2: Comparing It To The Original Film

Chloe Fitzgerald

4 min read

Post on May 11, 2025

4.3

Share

Plot and Storyline: A Simpler Sequel?

The original Grown Ups centers on five childhood friends who reunite for a high school reunion, rekindling their bond while navigating the complexities of parenthood, marriage, and career. The film explores themes of friendship, family, and rediscovering your roots. Grown Ups 2, on the other hand, sees the group return to their hometown, this time grappling with the even more chaotic reality of raising teenagers.

While both films share the core element of the friends' enduring friendship, Grown Ups 2 simplifies the narrative. The sequel leans more heavily on escalating comedic situations and less on the emotional depth found in the original. This shift in focus impacts the overall storytelling.

• Grown Ups: High school reunion, navigating adult life challenges, rediscovering friendship, dealing with parental responsibilities.
• Grown Ups 2: Return to hometown, dealing with teenage children, escalating comedic situations, more slapstick humor, less emphasis on character development.

The sequel, while entertaining, feels less nuanced and relies more on slapstick and familiar comedic tropes than on building upon the original's emotional core.

Characters and Performances: Familiar Faces, New Dynamics

The core cast – Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, and Rob Schneider – return in Grown Ups 2, reprising their roles with familiar comedic timing. However, character development is noticeably less pronounced in the sequel.

• Lenny Feder (Adam Sandler): From struggling with fatherhood in the original to facing more chaotic family life in the sequel, Lenny's struggles remain, but with less emotional weight.
• Eric Lamonsoff (Kevin James): Eric’s character arc is less defined in the sequel, primarily serving as a source of comedic relief.
• Kurt McKenzie (Chris Rock): Kurt's character maintains his witty observations but is less central to the overall plot in Grown Ups 2.

While the familiar faces provide a sense of comfort and nostalgia, the sequel lacks the same level of character exploration and growth as the original. The introduction of new supporting characters, such as the sons' friends and neighbors, adds to the comedic chaos but doesn't necessarily enhance the overall narrative or character development.

Humor and Comedic Style: A Shift in Tone?

Grown Ups balances relatable adult situations with bursts of slapstick humor, creating a comedic blend that resonates with a broad audience. Grown Ups 2, however, leans more heavily on slapstick and exaggerated scenarios. While still funny at times, the increased reliance on crude humor and less subtle comedic gags divides audience opinions.

• Grown Ups: More grounded in relatable adult situations with bursts of slapstick, relying on observational humor and character interactions.
• Grown Ups 2: Increased reliance on slapstick and more outrageous scenarios, incorporating more crude humor and physical comedy.

This shift in comedic style arguably impacts the overall effectiveness of the humor. While the original film provides a more balanced and nuanced comedic experience, Grown Ups 2 sometimes falls into the trap of relying too much on shock value rather than clever writing.

Critical and Audience Reception: A Box Office Battle

Grown Ups received mixed reviews from critics, but enjoyed a strong positive audience reception. Grown Ups 2, however, faced considerably lower critical scores, despite maintaining decent box office success. This difference reflects the shift in comedic style and possibly a decrease in narrative depth.

• Grown Ups: Positive audience reaction, generally mixed critical reviews, strong box office performance.
• Grown Ups 2: Lower critical scores, still commercially successful, but with a less enthusiastic audience response compared to the original.

The lower critical reception suggests that the sequel’s reliance on simpler, more predictable humor didn't resonate as strongly with critics, although the film's commercial success highlights its continued appeal to a specific audience.

Conclusion: The Verdict – Grown Ups or Grown Ups 2?

In comparing Grown Ups and Grown Ups 2, it becomes clear that the sequel, while commercially successful, sacrifices some of the narrative depth and comedic nuance of the original. Grown Ups offers a more balanced blend of relatable humor and heartwarming moments, exploring the complexities of adult life and friendship with more sensitivity. Grown Ups 2, while providing plenty of laughs, opts for a simpler, more slapstick approach. Ultimately, the original Grown Ups emerges as the superior film due to its stronger narrative and more effective comedic style.

Which Grown Ups movie do YOU think is better? Let us know in the comments below!