"Vacation Friends 2" had the opportunity to explore new comedic territories, given the open-ended nature of its predecessor. Instead, it opts for more of the same, proving to be even less enjoyable than the first film. The movie's humor remains abrasive as it once again storms into our viewing experience, asking for our laughs and approval.
In this sequel, Marcus (Lil Rel Howery) and Emily (Yvonne Orji) invite their unruly friends, Ron (John Cena) and Kyla (Meredith Hagner), to join them for a five-day stay at a Caribbean hotel. This time, the chaos-loving couple brings along their baby Marcus. Top it off, they are joined by Maurillio (Carlos Santos), the unflappable hotel manager from the first film. Maurillio largely serves as a babysitter this time around.
Adding a new twist, Steve Buscemi's character Reese, Kyla's father, enters the scene from prison. He threatens to derail Marcus' life yet again. Marcus has a critical business presentation to make to the hotel's main owner, aiming to impress figures like VP Yeon (Ronnie Chieng). He can't afford to have his volatile friends or their unexpected guest ruin his big moment. Reese is more manipulative than his daughter. He guides the narrative towards increasingly contrived and forced scenarios that lack genuine comedic spirit.
Buscemi, who has a rich filmography, is confined here to a role that underutilizes his talent. Much like the film's other characters, his actions feel more forced than natural. Even the sunny backdrop of Hawaii can't lift the film's comedic spirit, leaving viewers to artificially manufacture their own laughs.
The original "Vacation Friends" shifted its focus from resort mishaps to wedding jitters, keeping audiences somewhat engaged. This sequel attempts a similar tactic by evolving into an action-comedy featuring a scuba-diving trip gone awry, complete with gunfire. Yet, this action feels as stagnant as the film's comedic segments, which are lackluster set-pieces that end in drunkenness or flight.
The lead actors, Lil Rel Howery and Yvonne Orji, offer uninspired performances. Even a subplot that touches on the couple's thoughts on having children fails to add depth. John Cena and Meredith Hagner continue their over-the-top antics, which quickly grow tedious. The characters, including those portrayed by underutilized talents like Chieng and Santos, fail to enhance the film's limited appeal but rather exemplify its shallow attempts at humor.
Director and writer Clay Tarver rehashes many of the first film's flaws-mistaking loudness for comedy, ill-timed cell phone sounds, and visual gags that miss their mark. This sequel confirms that this style of humor not only has a limited appeal but also a short lifespan.
In sum, "Vacation Friends 2" squanders an opportunity to rejuvenate the comedy series. It sticks to a formula that wasn't particularly successful to begin with, resulting in a film that lacks both freshness and genuine laughs.
