If you saw the first Grown Ups, you know the drill. Adam Sandler rounds up his real-life best friends—Kevin James, Chris Rock, and David Spade—and they basically get paid to hang out on camera. In the sequel, Sandler’s character, Lenny Feder, has moved his family back to his small hometown to give his kids a "normal" life.

There isn't much of a plot. It’s the last day of school, and the guys are dealing with everything from a home-invading deer to a group of aggressive frat boys led by a pre-fame Taylor Lautner. It’s a series of sketches stitched together by the common thread of "dads trying to stay cool while aging poorly."

To a 12-year-old, Grown Ups 2 is peak comedy. It’s fast-paced, loud, and features a lot of the same "brain rot" energy they find in YouTube shorts or TikTok trends.

If your kid thinks saying "Ohio" is the height of wit or spends their time watching Skibidi Toilet memes, the humor in this movie will land perfectly. It’s built on physical gags—people falling, things exploding, and animals doing gross things. It feels a little bit "forbidden" because of the PG-13 rating, but it doesn't cross into the truly graphic territory of an R-rated comedy.

Check out our guide on why kids love "brain rot" humor

Let’s be real: this movie is crude. If you’re looking for Pixar-level sophistication, keep walking.

The movie opens with a deer standing over Adam Sandler in bed and... well, relieving itself on him. That sets the tone. There is a lot of talk about bodily functions. The "burpsnart" (a burp, sneeze, and fart at the same time) is a recurring joke. If your household has a low tolerance for bathroom humor, this movie will be a long 101 minutes for you.

There’s a fair amount of "male gaze" humor. There’s a scene involving a car wash with "hot moms" that is played for laughs but is definitely objectifying. David Spade’s character discovers he has a long-lost son who is a massive, intimidating teenager, leading to some jokes about his past "conquests." It’s all very "suburban frat boy," but it stays within the PG-13 lines—no actual nudity, just a lot of cleavage and suggestive comments.

The "villains" of the movie are a group of college frat boys. There’s a lot of posturing, some light fighting, and a giant brawl at the end. While it’s all played for laughs, the movie does rely on some "mean-spirited" humor where characters are mocked for their appearance or quirks.

Despite the fart jokes, Grown Ups 2 does have a heart. It focuses heavily on the idea that these men are trying to be better fathers than their own dads were. Lenny (Sandler) is genuinely invested in his kids' lives, and the bond between the four main friends is actually quite wholesome. They show up for each other. They value their wives (even if they’re occasionally terrified of them). For a movie that features a "burpsnart," it spends a surprising amount of time talking about the importance of community and staying true to your roots.

Ages 0-9: Skip it. The humor will mostly go over their heads, and the suggestive stuff isn't necessary for this age group. Stick to Hotel Transylvania or Leo if they want that Sandler fix.

Ages 10-12: This is the "maybe" zone. If your kid is mature enough to handle some "edgy" jokes without repeating them at Thanksgiving dinner, they’ll probably find it hilarious. It’s a good time to talk about what makes something funny vs. what is just mean.

Ages 13+: This is the target audience. They’ve likely seen worse on YouTube. At this age, they can appreciate the satire of "uncool dads" and the absurdity of the situations.

Ask our chatbot about age-appropriate alternatives for your 11-year-old

When you sit down to watch an Adam Sandler movie, you’re entering a specific ecosystem. Our community data shows that for many families, Sandler movies are a rite of passage. They are the "safe" way to bridge the gap between "little kid" movies and "adult" movies.

If you’re deciding whether to let your kid dive into the Sandler catalog, here’s how to categorize them:

These are the ones you can watch with almost anyone. They have some crude humor, but the heart is front and center.

These are the ones we grew up with. They’re PG-13 and contain more language and "stupid" humor.

These are the Netflix-era ones that vary wildly in quality and "appropriateness."

If you do watch Grown Ups 2 as a family, it’s a great opportunity for some "stealth parenting" conversations:

Grown Ups 2 is not a good movie by any traditional standard. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s occasionally eye-roll-inducing. But it’s also harmless fun for a Friday night when you don’t want to think too hard.

If you can get past the deer pee and the "burpsnarts," you’ll find a movie that celebrates family and long-term friendship. It’s a "vibe" movie—and for a lot of kids, that vibe is exactly what they’re looking for.

Check out our full list of recommended family comedies