“Vacation Friends 2: An Unbearable Comedy Sequel That Misses the Mark”

Vacation Friends 2 Review: A Painfully Unfunny Comedy Sequel

Released during the second summer of the Covid-19 pandemic, Vacation Friends attempted to bring back the charm of big, bright studio comedies that have become increasingly rare in recent years. While the film wasn’t as entertaining as it could have been, it managed to score a record-breaking opening weekend on Hulu, proving that audiences were still interested in low-stakes home-watch comedies. However, the same cannot be said for its unwanted follow-up, Vacation Friends 2, which turns out to be even worse than its predecessor.

A Lack of Creative Reasoning

While a sequel might make commercial sense, it is often challenging for comedy sequels to justify their own existence, as repetition tends to trump reinvention. The original Vacation Friends had the potential for an interesting set-up, exploring the tenuous friendships formed on holiday when options are limited and inhibitions are loosened. However, the film failed to deliver on its promise, turning into a tiresome and half-hearted waste of talented actors.

Unfortunately, the sequel falls into the same trap, becoming a maddeningly unfunny string of bad decisions. The film plays everything at an unnecessarily high volume, making it impossible to suspend disbelief or find any shred of authenticity. The narrative fails to explain why a strait-laced couple would willingly continue to allow a wild criminal couple to ruin their precious vacation time. And yet, these couples find themselves on yet another vacation together in the sequel, leading to more predictably far-fetched scenarios that are even more alienating than before.

No Substance, No Laughter

Vacation Friends 2 suffers from a severe lack of substance. The characters are nothing more than crude cartoon caricatures, aimlessly moving through a series of wacky events without any logical motivation or consistency. Scene-to-scene, characters change their personalities and motivations without any explanation, further undermining any credibility the film might have had. The absence of laughs exacerbates these issues – the film is entirely devoid of jokes that land, relying on chaotic distractions to mask its laugh-free one-liners.

It feels as though Vacation Friends 2 is a dated sitcom, awkwardly expanded into a movie. The actors deliver their lines as if awaiting a studio audience’s laughter, but none ever comes. The film’s subplots, including a hotel contract pursuit and involvement in local crime deals, are written and presented in broad strokes, resembling something that belongs in a children’s movie rather than a grown-up comedy. This confusion is only deepened by the fact that it is an R-rated film, as if the audience is being treated like unsuspecting children.

A Wasted Cast and Audience Attention

Even the talented cast, which attempted to salvage the original film’s deficiencies, is overshadowed in Vacation Friends 2. Meredith Hagner’s often hilarious shtick (which was better utilized in Joy Ride this summer) and Lil Rel Howery’s charming everyman persona both wear thin, unable to overcome the laziness and lack of focus in the film. It’s no wonder that most viewers will find themselves double-screening and paying minimal attention to the film, as it fails to demand any investment from its audience.

If the creators of Vacation Friends 2 themselves don’t seem to care about the film they are making, then why should the viewers? The sequel ultimately comes across as a lazy and uninspired attempt to cash in on the success of its predecessor, without offering anything new or entertaining.

Editorial and Advice

Where Did the Humor Go?

It is disappointing to see another comedy sequel fall into the trap of prioritizing profit over creativity. While it may be tempting for studios to churn out sequels to successful comedies, it is essential to remember that what made the original film enjoyable was not simply its familiar characters or premise, but its ability to make audiences laugh. Vacation Friends 2 fails in this regard, leaving viewers wondering why they bothered watching in the first place.

A Lesson in Reinvention

Comedy sequels should take note from their successful counterparts, such as The Hangover series or 21 Jump Street, which managed to maintain the humor and inventiveness of their predecessors. Rather than relying on repetitive gags or recycled jokes, these films found a way to reinvent themselves while staying true to the essence of what made the original film enjoyable.

Investing in Strong Writing

No matter how talented the cast may be, they cannot salvage a poorly written script. Comedy sequels need to prioritize strong writing that builds upon the characters and themes of the original film while offering fresh, witty humor. By investing in thoughtful writing, creators can avoid the lazy pitfalls that plague films like Vacation Friends 2.

Respecting the Audience

A successful comedy film understands the intelligence and discerning taste of its audience. It doesn’t rely on cheap gags or over-the-top chaos to compensate for a lack of genuine humor. To truly engage viewers, comedy sequels must respect their audience’s intelligence and deliver jokes that are clever, well-timed, and genuinely funny.

Choosing Quality over Quantity

While commercial success is undoubtedly an important factor for studios, it should not come at the expense of artistic integrity. Instead of churning out endless sequels that dilute the original film’s appeal, it may be wiser for studios to focus on creating quality comedy films that leave a lasting impression on audiences. This means prioritizing careful storytelling, memorable characters, and, most importantly, genuine laughter.

Conclusion

Vacation Friends 2 is a painfully unfunny comedy sequel that fails to justify its existence. Lacking creativity, humor, and respect for its audience, the film squanders the talents of its cast and replaces genuine comedic moments with chaotic distractions. As viewers, we should demand more from comedy sequels, and as creators, we should strive to deliver innovative and laughter-filled films that leave a lasting impression.