Grown Ups

Grown Ups

movie

PG-13, 2010, Comedy

WISE
28%

WISE Score

10

Avg. Tomatometer

Adam Sandler and friends phone it in for a weekend of crude jokes and lazy nostalgia that's neither funny enough nor wholesome enough to recommend.

IMDb6
RT Critics10%
MC30
TMDB6.4
Common Sense Media
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Screenwise Verdict

Look, we all have guilty pleasures, but Grown Ups is the kind of movie that makes you wonder if Adam Sandler and his friends just wanted a paid vacation. The premise—old friends reunite after their coach dies—could've been heartwarming, but instead we get 102 minutes of body-shaming, crude jokes, and the kind of humor that makes you cringe more than laugh.

The 'wholesome friendship' angle is undercut at every turn by mean-spirited gags and objectifying humor. There's nothing imaginative here—it's paint-by-numbers buddy comedy without the wit. And while it's not traumatizing, it's definitely not safe for family viewing unless you want to explain why grown men think burping and making fun of women's bodies is peak comedy.

The real issue? It's just not that funny or engaging, even by lowbrow comedy standards. The 6.4 TMDB rating tells the story. If your teen is begging to watch it because their friends did, fine—but know you're getting zero developmental value and a lot of eye-rolling. There are so many better comedies out there that are actually funny AND don't rely on punching down for laughs.

Age Fit

Technically PG-13, so 13+ could watch, but honestly, even teens deserve better comedy. The humor is too crude for younger kids and too immature for older teens who've developed actual taste. This is in the awkward zone of 'maybe 12-15 year olds who haven't discovered good comedy yet.'

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
35

Adam Sandler comedy featuring crude humor, body-shaming jokes, and stereotypical gender dynamics. While centered on friendship and family reunion themes, the emotional health is undercut by frequent mean-spirited humor, objectification of women, and lazy parenting being played for laughs. Models immature male behavior more than genuine cooperation or kindness.

Imaginative
20

Formulaic buddy-comedy with zero originality—five friends reunite for a weekend is a well-worn premise executed without creative flair. No invitation to explore ideas, build anything, or engage curiosity. The humor is lowest-common-denominator slapstick and gross-out gags rather than clever or thought-provoking comedy.

Safe
45

PG-13 territory with crude sexual humor, drinking, body-shaming, and some mild violence (slapstick). No graphic content but pervasive inappropriate jokes about bodies, women, and bodily functions that would be uncomfortable for younger viewers. The tone is consistently immature with objectifying content throughout. Not traumatic but definitely not safe for unexpected family viewing with kids present.

Enriching
25

Minimal enrichment value. Surface-level themes about friendship and nostalgia are drowned out by lazy humor. No meaningful character growth, skill-building, or empathy development. The 'life lessons' about appreciating simpler times are delivered with all the depth of a greeting card. Entertainment value exists for those who enjoy Sandler's brand of comedy, but it's not particularly entertaining for most audiences given its 6.4 TMDB rating and reputation as one of Sandler's weaker efforts.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • If you're nostalgic for early 2010s Sandler comedies and that very specific brand of humor, this delivers exactly that
  • Some kids find slapstick physical comedy entertaining regardless of quality
  • The friendship theme is present, even if buried under layers of crude jokes
  • Short runtime means it's over quickly
⚠

What to Watch For

  • Pervasive crude sexual humor, body-shaming, and objectification of women throughout
  • Characters model immature behavior and lazy parenting as comedy
  • Drinking and partying presented without real consequences
  • Humor relies heavily on making fun of people's bodies, appearances, and stereotypes
  • Zero educational or developmental value—pure (low-quality) entertainment

Conversation Starters

  • "What did you think was actually funny versus just mean?"
  • "Do you think those guys are good role models for how friends should treat each other?"
  • "Why do you think they made so many jokes about people's bodies?"
  • "What would a real friendship reunion look like versus this movie version?"
Stills
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