Grown Ups 2 is the 2013 sequel to the Adam Sandler comedy Grown Ups, featuring Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, and David Spade as childhood friends navigating middle age. The movie follows their antics over the last day of school as they deal with bullies, wild parties, and various mishaps in their small hometown.
It's rated PG-13, runs about 101 minutes, and honestly? It's the kind of movie that makes you wonder if the MPAA was having an off day. Because while it technically squeaks by with a PG-13 rating, this is not your typical family comedy.
Kids are drawn to Grown Ups 2 for a few reasons:
- Star power - Adam Sandler and Kevin James are familiar faces from other comedies
- Physical comedy - Lots of slapstick, people falling, getting hurt in "funny" ways
- The "grown-ups acting like kids" premise - There's something appealing about adults being silly and breaking rules
- It's on streaming - The movie cycles through Netflix, Hulu, and other platforms regularly, making it easy to stumble upon
But here's the thing: just because kids want to watch something doesn't mean it's appropriate. And this movie is a prime example of that gap.
Let me be direct: Grown Ups 2 is crude, lazy comedy that relies heavily on bodily function humor, sexual innuendo, and mean-spirited jokes. The PG-13 rating is technically accurate (no F-bombs, no nudity), but the spirit of the content skews older.
The Content Breakdown:
Sexual content and innuendo: This is the big one. The movie is packed with sexual references, including:
- Jokes about male anatomy (repeatedly)
- Suggestive situations and dialogue throughout
- A scene where a deer urinates on a character's face (played for laughs but... yeah)
- References to strip clubs and sexual acts
- Objectification of women's bodies
Language: While there's no F-word, expect plenty of:
- Crude slang terms
- Insults and name-calling
- Religious exclamations (OMG, etc.)
Bullying and mean behavior: The movie treats bullying as comedy fodder:
- Adults and teens mocking each other
- Physical intimidation played for laughs
- Revenge scenarios that teach questionable lessons
Substance use: Characters drink beer throughout, and there's a party scene with implied underage drinking.
Reckless behavior: Tire swings into quarries, dangerous stunts, all presented as fun rather than consequences.
Ages 0-12: Hard pass. The sexual humor will either go over their heads (so why watch?) or introduce concepts they're not ready for. The bullying dynamics model poor behavior.
Ages 13-15: This is technically the target demographic per the rating, but I'd still pump the brakes. Early teens are at a developmental stage where they're absorbing social cues about how to treat others, what's funny, and what's acceptable. This movie teaches that:
- Women's bodies are punchlines
- Bullying is funny if you're the one doing it
- Crude = comedy gold
If your 13-15 year old has seen it or really wants to, consider it a conversation starter rather than just entertainment. Talk about what makes humor actually funny versus just mean
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Ages 16+: At this point, they've likely been exposed to far worse, and they have more critical thinking skills to recognize lazy comedy. But that doesn't mean it's worth their time.
Here's my honest take: Grown Ups 2 is simply not a good movie. It has a 7% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes for a reason. Even if you're comfortable with the content level, it's just... not funny. It's Adam Sandler and friends collecting a paycheck while phoning in dick jokes.
If your kid wants to watch it because "everyone has seen it" (spoiler: they haven't), you have a few options:
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Watch it together first - Preview it yourself to see if it aligns with your family values. The crude humor might be a dealbreaker, or you might think it's harmless enough.
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Co-view and discuss - If you decide to allow it, watch it with your teen and pause to talk about the problematic moments. Why is that joke supposed to be funny? What does it say about how we view women/bodies/bullying?
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Offer alternatives - If they want silly comedy with heart, try The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Free Guy, or even the first Jumanji reboot. These have humor without the mean-spiritedness.
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Just say no - Sometimes the answer is "This movie doesn't meet our family's standards, and here's why." That's valid parenting.
If you're trying to figure out what comedies ARE appropriate for your family, consider these questions:
- What kind of humor does your family value? (Clever wordplay vs. physical comedy vs. situational humor)
- What topics are off-limits? (Sexual content, drug use, violence)
- Are you comfortable with crude humor if it's not mean-spirited?
Explore age-appropriate comedies for families to find movies that are actually funny and aligned with your values.
And remember: it's okay to be the parent who says no to a PG-13 movie. Ratings are guidelines, not mandates. You know your kid, your values, and what you're comfortable with. Trust that instinct.