ViewGuide

Created Sep 30, 2010 10:33PM PST • Edited Oct 01, 2010 09:00PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Bad 1.0

   Painfully unfunny. Scratch that. A couple bits are funny. But those were mostly in the overexposed trailer, so were tired in the movie.

   Adding to the discomfort, Grown Ups uses a parade of bad parenting as its setup. These guys are such paternal wimps – and their wives such harpies – that they trigger anger more than laughs. Woof.

   That said, as a noted Adam Sandler hater, I recognize that he makes lots of people laugh. For them, this may be a latter day masterpiece.

4. Acting

   Barely OK 2.0

   Talk about the real Not Ready For Prime Time Players. Sandler provides a full employment service for second rate SNL veterans.

   Even the few non-SNL alums embarrass themselves. Witness Steve Buscemi’s painful and painfully unfunny performance. Or Salma Hayek and Maria Bellow’s awkward cheerleading in “boob watch” outfits. Bad taste is often excusable when it’s funny, as in The Hangover and Tropic Thunder. When it’s not funny, it’s just bad.

5. Male Stars OK 2.5

6. Female Stars Barely OK 2.0

7. Female Costars OK 2.5

8. Male Costars Pretty Bad 1.5

10. Film

    Bad 1.0

11. Direction Pretty Bad 1.5

12. Play Pretty Awful 0.5

13. Music Pretty Bad 1.5

    An embarrassing number of lame songs get highlighted. Bogus.

14. Visuals Barely OK 2.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.7

17. Sex Titillating 1.8

18. Violence Gentle 1.4

19. Rudeness Salty 1.8

21. Reality

    Glib 1.7

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.8

23. Biological Glib 2.0

24. Physical Glib 1.3