Adam Sandler is back at it again, mining his back catalogue for Netflix as the streamer announces a third instalment of Grown Ups. Because, apparently, the world was just missing a third helping of Sandler and his comedy buddies playing buddies who are occasionally funny. The project, which is now in production in New Jersey, sees the return of Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Maya Rudolph, Maria Bello, and Salma Hayek Pinault, along with a slew of other familiar faces, including Jackie Sandler, Shaquille O’Neal, Colin Quinn, Tim Meadows, Cheri Oteri, Ellen Cleghorne, and Nick Swardson. New additions to the cast include Julie Bowen, Deon Cole, and Bailee Madison.
The first Grown Ups film, released in 2010, grossed a whopping $271 million worldwide, while the 2013 sequel earned $246.9 million more. It’s clear that these movies have struck a chord with audiences, even if they haven’t exactly set the critical world on fire. The first Grown Ups holds a lowly 10 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, while Grown Ups 2 did even worse, sitting at an 8 percent on the Tomatometer. But hey, who needs good reviews when you’ve got a built-in audience, right? It’s not like Netflix is going to let a little thing like quality get in the way of a potential cash cow.
The Nostalgia Harvest Continues
It’s no secret that Hollywood is in the midst of its annual Nostalgia Harvest, where studios dig up old IP and try to squeeze out every last drop of familiarity. And what’s more familiar than Adam Sandler and his crew of comedic cohorts? It’s a formula that’s worked for them in the past, and you can bet that Netflix is hoping to strike gold again with Grown Ups 3. After all, who needs originality when you can just rehash the same old jokes and characters and call it a day? Somewhere, a Focus Group earned another bonus for telling executives exactly what they wanted to hear.
The fact that Grown Ups 3 is being directed by Kyle Newacheck, who also helmed Happy Gilmore 2, is hardly a surprise. It’s not like Netflix is taking any risks here. They’re playing it safe, relying on the same old playbook that’s worked for them in the past. And why not? It’s not like they’re trying to make a good movie or anything. They’re just trying to make a movie that people will watch, and if that means resorting to tired old formulas and cliches, then so be it.
The Content Mines Remain Fully Operational
The announcement of Grown Ups 3 is just another example of the Content Mines remaining fully operational. It’s a never-ending cycle of reboots, sequels, and remakes, all designed to extract every last bit of value from familiar IP. And at the center of it all is Adam Sandler, a man who’s made a career out of playing the same character over and over again. You’ve got to admire his dedication to his craft, even if that craft is primarily focused on making lazy, unoriginal comedies.
As the production of Grown Ups 3 gets underway, you can bet that the Merchandising Department is already salivating at the prospect of all the new toys and t-shirts they’ll get to sell. And why not? It’s not like the movie is actually about anything substantial. It’s just a vehicle for Sandler and his friends to make jokes and have a good time. And if that’s what the people want, then that’s what they’ll get. After all, as the great philosopher once said, “Give the people what they want, and they’ll give you their money.”
In the end, it’s all just a big game, and we’re all just pawns in the grand scheme of things. The studios will keep churning out the same old nonsense, and we’ll keep eating it up, because that’s what we do. And Adam Sandler will keep making movies, because that’s what he does. It’s a never-ending cycle, and we’re all just along for the ride. So, buckle up, folks, because Grown Ups 3 is coming, and it’s going to be a wild ride. Or, at the very least, it’ll be a ride that’s familiar, comforting, and completely unoriginal.
Finn McFrame, celebrated satirical mastermind and self-proclaimed “Emperor of Irony,” started his illustrious career as a cinematographer, where his expertise in capturing every single frame of a squirrel stealing a baguette earned him accolades at obscure film festivals.
Born in the glamorous town of Boring, Oregon, Finn grew up with dreams of being a Hollywood director until he realized that satire, not cinema, was his true calling—or at least the one that let him sleep until noon.
Finn McFrame: changing the world, one satirical lens flare at a time.
