The comedy film ‘Grown Ups,’ directed by Dennis Dugan, is a thrilling and star-studded event. The comedy quickly swings out of control with A-listers Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Rob Schneider, and Salma Hayek at the lead. Lenny, Eric, Kurt, Marcus, and Rob, childhood friends, win a basketball championship and celebrate with their coach, Buzzer, in a beautiful lake house.
Thirty years later, all of the pals have lost touch and moved on with their lives. To put it mildly, Buzzer’s demise lays the way for a tumultuous reunion. The jumbled, exciting, and offbeat comedy may not please reviewers, but it certainly packs enough punch to be a movie office hit. If you like the comedy concoction, we have a few suggestions that we think you’ll enjoy. The majority of these films similar to ‘Grown Ups’ may be found on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.
American Reunion (2012)
In the erotic comedy ‘American Reunion,’ director combo Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg team up to offer a rib-tickling feast. The film, which is the fourth installment in the popular ‘American Pie’ franchise, reunites the infamous gang of misfits – Jim, Oz, Kevin, Finch, and Stifler – for a potentially unending reunion bash. And, as is typical with these endeavors, things go wrong in the blink of an eye, forcing the buddies to rethink their friendship and relationships. ‘Grown Ups’ is about a high school reunion, and if you miss your high school friends, here is a film that will help you forget about them.
Coherence (2013)
‘Coherence,’ directed by James Ward Byrkit, is a grounded and ambitious sci-fi thriller that hides a lot of intrigue under its low-budget exterior. The plot centres around eight friends who reunite for Mike and Lee’s housewarming party. They learn that Miller’s comet will pass over the night sky and start to notice strange things. These pals, on the other hand, have some unsolved issues of their own. The film was hailed as a revolutionary foray into the genre, and if you want to continue with the ‘Grown Ups’ reunion theme while changing the mood, this is the perfect shocker to add to your bucket list.
Following the enormous box office success of the first film, director Dennis Dugan brings back the original cast for ‘Grown Ups 2.’ The tale picks up three years after the original film’s conclusion, with Lenny returning to his hometown and the deer-infested Stanton neighborhood. He reconnects with his old pals Eric, Kurt, and Marcus, kicking off a hilarious comedy. Nothing will stop you from eating this film if you like the first one.
Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
‘Grosse Pointe Blank,’ directed by George Armitage, is another humorous John Cusack vehicle. In his suburban hometown of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, a hitman is on a mission. The night also happens to be the eve of his ten-year high school reunion. He learns that someone is after his life after reuniting with old friends. The adventurous night quickly spirals out of control. With a plot as gripping as this, the motifs in the film nevertheless have a certain something about them that reminds us of ‘Grown Ups.’
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
In the world of comedy, Steve Pink is a well-known figure. In the reunion comedy film ‘Hot Tub Time Machine,’ the director delivers another snowy and side-splitting spectacle. The plot centres around three miserable friends who go to a Kodiak Valley ski resort to drink, relax, and enjoy hot spas. They come across a time machine in the guise of a hot spa, which transports the group back in time.
Now it’s up to them to keep the future on the correct track. While presenting a bizarre concept on screen, the film also plays with the ideas of free will and predestination. John Cusack, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, and Clark Duke star in the film, which keeps the boat (or tub) afloat. While ‘Grown Ups’ and ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ both deal with comparable issues, the manner the two films execute their goals differs dramatically. As a result, if you enjoyed the former, the latter may be a welcome change.
Kicking And Screaming (1995)
Noah Baumbach is a director who needs no introduction to Sundance attendees, and if you want to witness a reunion film done well, you should see his feature debut, ‘Kicking and Screaming.’ It’s even better than a reunion because the pals still seem to be in college, despite the fact that they’re getting older by the day. The film offers a genuine and honest portrayal of a subculture that is also quite entertaining. Following ‘Grown Ups,’ you may identify with this indie treasure if you never want to be a grown-up again.
Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997)
‘Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion,’ directed by David Mirkin, is a humorous high-voltage comedy road movie mashup. The plot centres around two inseparable buddies who, while not the smartest, are unstoppable in their enthusiasm. They have to obtain a piece of the cake when they hear about their ten-year high school reunion. They went on the road to see old pals while fabricating a complex story about their life. In this wandering and hilarious reunion narrative, Mira Sorvino plays alongside ‘Friends’ alumnae Lisa Kudrow. If you’re having a reunion movie marathon after seeing ‘Grown Ups,’ this is the next stop.
