Grown Ups 2

Grown Ups 2 has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on Foxtel Now and Stan, and in the US on Philo and Starz Apple TV Channel. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Adam Sandler — stay for everyone else around them. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Foxtel Now.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Grown Ups 2 is worth clearing space for. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Grown Ups 2 from the crowd. Lenny has relocated his family back to the small town where he and his friends grew up. This time around, the grown ups are the ones learning lessons from their kids on a day notoriously full of surprises—the last day of school. Adam Sandler and Kevin James lead a cast with the timing to make it work. It was released in 2013. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Grown Ups 2 holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Grown Ups 2 is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Adam Sandler sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.