Vacation Friends 2 (2023) User Reviews

Not even close to as good as the first one.

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 5/10 · 26 August 2023]

The first Vacation Friends was a surprisingly hilarious fun blast full of actual laugh out loud moments, and I had rated that one an 8/10. So considering it's the same director, writers and cast, I expected it to be pretty close to as good as the first one, but wow what a let down this was.

The story was cliched, predictable, sappy, convoluted nonsense, and it was all over the place. The directing was sub par and underwhelming. And as much as Cena tried his best with the terrible material he had this time around, even he nor the addition of Steve Buscemi couldn't save this mess. Unlike the first film, there were zero actual laugh out loud moments, there were barely any smiles, but mostly eyerolls and cringe at pretty much every funny part being a huge miss and mostly infantile humor. As much as I'm a fan of Cena and Buscemi, I just can't recommend wasting 105 minutes watching this mess just to see them.

Lame story, but more importantly it just fails to become funny.

[imseeg · 4/10 · 26 August 2023]

Beware: this movie is only suited for teenagers. It's THAT silly and farcical. But I wouldnt even dare recommend this movie to any teenager, because there is a lot wrong...

The bad: it's jokes fall flat, almost all of the time. And the jokes are the kind of IN YOUR FACE jokes, that are so obnoxiously cheap, that they annoyed me from start till finish. I didnt laugh once. And what's a comedy without any good jokes? You tell me...

Not any good then? I wanted to see this picture because of John Cena and Steve Buscemi, two actors who have proven themselves to be great (comedy) actors. Steve Buscemi was allright, but John Cena was ridiculously NOT funny.

Please pass this one by, because you will regret watching it...

A sad let down from the original

[alatlantic · 4/10 · 28 August 2023]

The original was a pleasant surprise to me, as I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. It had some clever writing and scenarios that really made one laugh.

This one...where to start. I almost turned it off in the first 20 minutes. The whole beginning of the movie is little more than "let's scream the F word as loud as possible over and over" and "let's say private things out loud." If you find that funny, you may like it more than I did, but I found it incredibly lazy and just not humorous.

Luckily, it -does- get slightly better after that. There are some mildly funny scenes in it, but the writing just isn't there this time. Don't go in expecting the original, or you'll be let down pretty hard.

A lazy sequel

[djrmc24 · 3/10 · 27 August 2023]

I really enjoyed the first Vacation Friends movie. There were a lot of laughs and the premise was a good one. The sequel is the complete opposite and is just so boring. The laughs do not land in this one and the script is all over the place. I think this film could have benefited with more time in developement instead of just rushing it out to audiences. I probably really only laughed 2-3x throughout the whole movie. That's a problem especially since this movie is supposed to be a comedy. Vacation Friends 2 reminded me of that cheap straight to dvd film. Vacation Friends gets a low 3 stars out of 10. Skip this one and just watch the original.

Not a bad sequel.

[deloudelouvain · 7/10 · 16 October 2023]

I don't get the negative reviews for this sequel. I agree that the first movie was better and funnier but this sequel is certainly not bad. My wife and I enjoyed this new adventure of the two completely different couples. This time in The Caribbean although filmed completely in Hawaii. Lil Rel Howery as Marcus, Yvonne Orji as Emily, John Cena as Ron and Meredith Hagner as Kyla, all did a good job again. This time they added Steve Buscemi as the father to the cast and watching him is always good. Like said before the sequel is slightly lesser good than the first movie but that's almost always the case if you think about it. Good easy entertainment.

Why John why??

[ilovemovies743 · 4/10 · 27 August 2023]

I love John Cena and typically love his movies. Had high hopes for this movie. What a let down! The best parts are the scenery. Having been to Oahu myself I know how beautiful it is. But the comedy is severely lacking. I laughed at a few things but mostly it wasn't funny. I didn't love the fist Vacation Friends movie and considering the reviews I hoped they learned from it and this one would be better.

Lazy writing! Could have been so much better. My 6 year old niece could have done a better job at making it funny. They should have got the writers from blockers to help. That was top notch! John please make better choices for us all!

It's different, but nearly as good as the original

[Dr_Breacher · 6/10 · 29 August 2023]

I'm not sure why there are so many negative reviews, if you liked the first movie you are all but guaranteed to like the first half of this movie as it is very similar.

The second half of the movie is more like an unrealistic action comedy that is not to be taken seriously, but there are still some laughs to be had. I respect that they didn't copy the first movie throughout the entire film.

If you go into this movie expecting a masterpiece or for it to be exactly the same as the first movie you are going to be disappointed, but if you lower your expectations a little you will be entertained for the entire 100 minutes.

Another waste of Cena's talents

[cardsrock · 4/10 · 27 August 2023]

The first Vacation Friends was a pretty mediocre comedy, but there were a few decent laughs. This sequel really doesn't bring much new to the table and the cast, sans Cena, is just not very funny. Cena is by far the highlight as he is the only one who really displays any real charisma, but he cannot do much to offset this predictable, boring story.

It's standard father-in-law and "win over the tough exec" fare. Everything is quite lazy with a lack of really any creative spark to speak for. Hulu's original movies from 20th Century films are hit or miss to say the least, and this is without a doubt a miss.

A step down but still enjoyable

[FeastMode · 6/10 · 26 August 2023]

The first Vacation Friends was a pleasant surprise. The sequel is a step down but still enjoyable. During the first half, I felt like I was laughing as much as in the original. It didn't feel like it missed a beat. But the second half has less laughs.

And it goes a little too outrageous and crosses the line of believability. This is mainly due to the odd inclusion of action scenes. I know it's not meant to be taken seriously, but it hurts the credibility of the whole movie. It doesn't feel as real, more like a fantasy.

Even with all that, I was still entertained and laughed a good amount. Steve Buscemi and Ronny Chieng are nice additions to the cast. (1 viewing, 8/25/2023)

Bland sequel...

[paul_haakonsen · 5/10 · 28 August 2023]

I genuinely enjoyed the 2021 movie "Vacation Friends", and when I had the chance to sit down and watch the 2023 sequel "Vacation Friends 2", of course I did so.

However, I have to say that writer and director Clay Tarver delivered a lukewarm sequel here. The script and storyline for "Vacation Friends 2" was generally devoid of the funny and outrageous situations that were in the first movie. And the script felt rather mundane and bland, and I was hardly brought to laughter throughout the course of the 106 minutes that the movie ran for.

The acting performances in "Vacation Friends 2" were fair, and it was nice to see John Cena, Lil Rel Howery, Meredith Hagner and Yvonne Orji return to reprise their characters in the sequel. It was really good to see Steve Buscemi in the movie, though his talent was just not utilized to any great accomplishment in "Vacation Friends 2", which was a shame. And it was certainly also nice to see Carlos Santos on the cast list.

So I found "Vacation Friends 2" to be somewhat of a disappointing viewing experience. And it is hardly a movie that I will be picking up a second time, simply because it was lacking the comedy appeal of the 2021 movie.

My rating of "Vacation Friends 2" lands on a very bland five out of ten stars.

Funny with great vibes

[jtindahouse · 8/10 · 26 August 2023]

These movies work. The first one back in 2021 was one of the more enjoyable comedy film experiences I've had in a long time. Obviously other people enjoyed it too because a sequel was soon announced. You can tell the writing team were all the same because this movie feels very similar to the first - in a good way. The jokes land and the vibes are great.

The characters in this movie are perfect for a comedy film. They are over the top and hilarious, but the writers do a great job of knowing the limit and making sure the characters never over-step it. They're fun people and the type of people you yourself would want to hang out with in real life. The movie never feels like it is having to force the characters into situations either. Everything flows very naturally. The writing team really knows what they are doing.

It feels so good to laugh out loud during a movie. That is becoming such a rare thing these days, but 'Vacation Friends 2' had me doing it time and again. This was a really good time and a well handled sequel. 8/10.

Watchable but nothing special.

[Majkati · 6/10 · 3 September 2023]

This is one of those movies where the plot is predictable and already seen so there's nothing really unique about it. You sort of already know how it's going to go and end.

Kyla was very obnoxious in this part and the acting was just a bit too goofy to put it lightly.

Her dad was very irritating throughout most of the movie except for the ending.

I liked the male babysitter since he seemed like that typical likable side character.

Overall this is the type of movie you can just play in the background and don't need to focus at all to pay attention to. The jokes aren't that funny but they are somewhat passable for humor.

John Cena cannot save this one.

[chand-suhas · 3/10 · 27 August 2023]

The 2 odd couples are here on a planned vacation and post the events of the prequel, they all get along just fine. Only glitch, Marcus Parker has a job to score whereas Ron has to win over his disapproving father-in-law, who by the way is a criminal. Now there's a subplot involving Marcus and Emily trying to have a baby, along with Ron and Kyla's crying baby getting babysit by Carlos. The challenges Marcus and Ron have to face unwillingly in order to secure the deal and impress the father-in-law, respectively forms rest of the story.

The problem here obviously is the lack of funny scenes. Most of them fall flat and unlike the last film, the cast truly couldn't get their charm + comedy timing to make those scenes work. The script is asusual super thin and highly predictable. The novelty surrounding this unlikely friendship is missing in the sequel. They are all already friends here, accepting each other and there isn't much tension involved here. Even the criminal father-in-law angle offers nothing much as the issue is resolved quite easily. Even the prequel was not good but atleast it had a charming John Cena but the charm is off, the second time around.

Boring

[lavajamie · 1/10 · 27 August 2023]

They shouldn't have bothered creating a second one. This was so disappointing. So boring and obnoxious. And so predictable. Then they add the white chick's dad to make it 10x more horrible, as if it wasn't already unbearable to watch. Let's just add more obnoxiousness. Don't even get me started on the acting. The acting looks like, well, they're acting. It doesn't seem authentic, makes you feel the presence of the entire camera crew, you know what I mean? It's...just bad. The airport doesn't look realistic, the airplane doesn't look realistic. Feels like a cheap, low budget movie. Anyways, enjoy :)

So cute and family fun

[moviesfilmsreviewsinc · 7/10 · 12 September 2023]

"Vacation Friends 2" is not a drastic drop-off from the original film, but it maintains consistency with its odd-couple dynamic. Lil Rel Howery and Yvonne Orji play the straight man/woman to John Cena and Meredith Hagner's free-spirited cannons. The two couples become besties over drunken nights in the first film. However, not everything in Mexico stays in Mexico, and the sequel premieres on Hulu almost exactly two years after its predecessor. The quartet, consisting of Marcus (Howery), Ron (Cena), Kyla (Hagner), and Maurillio (Carlos Santos), are on holiday in the Caribbean with a newborn named after Marcus. They are mixing business and pleasure, as Marcus, who owns a construction company, hopes to close a deal with a Korean hotel conglomerate. The running gags are Ron and Kyla, who sow chaos everywhere they go, from garnishing margarita glasses with cocaine to shooting empty beer bottles off each other's heads. They charm every family member and business associate Marcus and Emily (Orji) are afraid they'll make a scene in front of. Ron acknowledges that everyone likes him, and they always come through for their new BFFs when it counts. The interplay between the maniac with a heart of gold and Cena's cartoon-character energy is what makes these two movies work. Ron struggles to win over Kyla's ne'er-do-well father, Steve Buscemi, who is recently released from San Quentin and unexpectedly at the same resort as the heroes. Other drama, such as Emily's secret desire for a baby, takes precedence over the ridiculous hijinks in the sequel. The shenanigans have escalated from interrupted wedding ceremonies to shootouts with the Cuban coast guard. However, this delving into action/comedy territory distracts from the heart beneath the hijinks, which was the original's touching moments. The heart still beats here, but not as strongly as it did the first time. "Vacation Friends 2" had potential as a sequel to the original comedy, but it failed to deliver on its promise. The movie's generic team-up, featuring characters like John Cena and Meredith Hagner, was criticized for its shrill sense of humor. The characters, including Lil Rel Howery and Yvonne Orji, were on autopilot, and the shtick from Cena and Hagner became tiresome. The movie's characters, including those played by Chieng and Santos, were not flattering and instead exemplified the movie's fleeting ambitions for silliness. Clay Tarver, the sole writing credit, and the returning director, doubled down on the same gags, such as confusing loud for funny, cell phones making sounds at inopportune times, and visual jokes that went wide on the punchline and lasted only so long, minimizing their impact. This kind of comedy usually has a short shelf-life, and "Vacation Friends 2" failed to deliver on its promise.

Not as funny as the first

[lakings97 · 5/10 · 27 August 2023]

Vacation Friends 2 is a 20th Century Studios movie on Hulu that brings back the original cast from the first movie to another friends trip. This time they end up in Mexico but the scenery is truly Hawaii not Mexico. Lil Rel Howery and Yvonne Orji met up John Cena and Meredith Hagner who bring along their new born son. Carlos Santos acts as their babysitter and Ronny Cheng as the hotel manager. Steve Buscemi acts as Meredith's father who stirs trouble by stealing money from the local thugs. I don't know why they bothered with this sequel. It was not funny, very predictable and very unworthy. Don't bother with this nonsense.

Not a copycat It expands on the story

[jkb2012 · 6/10 · 26 August 2023]

If you were looking for a direct Copy of the original film I can tell you you will be disappointed. This film is a lot different from the original and I personally think it's better than the original. Sure, it's not not as funny as the original. However it's It takes what was funny About the The original and expands upon it and does a better job This is a lot. More come Then the original the cast has still got great chemistry with each other And this film is filled with great twist and turns that you never see coming and great surprises And some of the cliche's that You would expect work. I definitely hope it does well enough to make a third one.

Not good particularly actress who plays Cena's wife

[jrkrcb · 3/10 · 27 August 2023]

I am currently watching this movie right now as I am writing this review and the actress playing John Cena's wife is so cringe and her acting is just plain bad. Her performance in this movie makes me feel like not watching anything she will ever be apart of in the future. I don't remember her being this bad in the first one which was enjoyable. I am literally 20 minutes into this movie and already know it's going to be bad. Unfortunate should have done a better job screening this movie. Can't think of too much more of what to write here to fit the minimum characters. Definitely and contemplating if I am actually going to finish this movie. I am betting a super cringe scene where they are trying to hard to be funny fails and I will turn it off.

Horribly not funny

[IWasKnownAsThe1SentenceReviewer · 1/10 · 29 August 2023]

Horribly not funny: the first opus was fresh, this "new round" is just swearing, obscenities, poor storytelling and an unbelievable hotel manager baby sitter.

Despite the cool, calm, lovable crazy character of Ron (why "Ron" by the way?) interpreted by John Cena and the first few funny lines by Malaysian actor playing a Korean character Ronnie Chieng, this film flatly fails to entertain and will certainly crush the viewer as nastily as the Hawaiian wave on a drown yet alive Markus.

In a coconut shell, not worth the watch, simply because the crude jokes are NOT FUNNY!

A review in 600 characters.

Underrated Gold

[madman-60470 · 10/10 · 28 August 2023]

I see a lot of bad reviews and I'm very confused by it. I'm a 26 year old male and absolutely love this movie franchise so far! It brings back the raunchy humor that the film industry has been lacking for years. It has a solid story line and maybe a few cliche moments but they still add to the movies momentum and story line. Besides the beautiful views in this movie, lol rel howery has a high energy almost Kevin Hart like character, and John Cena is the funniest beast of a man that gets to play a VERY fun character! Just watch it with an open mind and maybe a shot or 2 and you'll be laughing harder than you have in a while! GREAT MOVIE!!

Why was this made?

[BT-Jimmy-Larson · 5/10 · 11 September 2023]

Vacation Friends was such a great movie. I laughed until I cried it was so funny. Every character served a purpose and the jokes kept coming non stop and you couldn't help but laugh and get invested in the 4 lead characters.

None of that happens here. Vacation Friends 2 manages to make all 4 lead characters you previously liked very unlikable. Then they add Steve Buscemi who manages to be the worst character in the movie.

There were a few laughs in the film, most of which were in the trailer. They built so long to the ashes joke but since the punchline was in the trailer the whole sequence fell flat for me.

Normally I'd call this type of sequel a cash cow but since it's a direct to Hulu film I can't even call it that. I'm not sure why this was made but it definitely should have stayed unmade.

If you want to laugh with these characters re watch the original and if you want to feel let down and disappointed that's the only way I'd recommend this sequel. I gave it 5-10 cause of my love for the characters from the first movie and the movie itself was average and could have been worse.

Utterly abysmal comedy sequel that overloads on distasteful crass as a pathetic attempt to replace missing humour / originality

[danieljfarthing · 1/10 · 29 August 2023]

The worst comedy sequels overload on distasteful crass as a pathetic attempt to replace missing humour / originality - and "Vacation Friends 2" (sequel to 2021's "Vacation Friends") is one of the worst examples. It is utterly, utterly abysmal. At a plush Caribbean hotel professional couple Lil Rey Howery & Yvonne Orji (not the worst two in it) reunite with f-bombing white-trash John Cena & Meredith Hagner (they ARE the worst), along with the likes of Steve Buscemi (who should be ashamed of himself), Carlos Santos & Ronny Chieng - in the dumbest plot (from witer / director Clay Tarver) based on stupid and unnecessary lies and deceptions. A stinking turd. Flush it!

Push Your Limits

[nogodnomasters · 4/10 · 28 August 2023]

Our crew of four is back on vacation, this time in an unnamed Caribbean Island near Cuba. Marcus (Lil Rel Howery) arranged the vacation and is attempting to keep a secret that he is doing a contract interview with a wealthy Korean group. The secret leaks out as they change his presentation date to sooner rather than later. Ron (John Cena) and Kyla (Meredith Hagner ) who are now parents agree to be subdued. The wrench in the works comes when Reese (Steve Buscemi ) recently released from prison shows up, Kayla's father. He knows where a plane full of drug money is located and the cartel knows he knows.

The original wasn't that great and didn't rate a sequel, but what do I know, after all I watched it. Characters didn't come across well. Humor has stale and flat. Even some old jokes.

Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.

Only clicked play because of Cena....turned off because of cena

[grlym-46849 · 1/10 · 1 September 2023]

Writing this review as I watch this

Wow, super bad acting.

Man this lady is gaslighting her husband nonstop. Very annoying.

Wow, this is John cena at his worst. And this many F words, especially this early in the movie is usually an indication of a really bad movie that tries to cover it up with a lot of profanity and nudity.

Watching cena and the supporting cast try to act like they are in their 20's is painful to watch.

I am now watching inferring if the first movie to this sequel was good or also this bad.

The lead antagonist is pretty great though. But he is usually pretty good in his roles

I don't think I can take much more if this really B rated Adam Sandler rip off.

Poor sequel, zero laughs

[wolfboy_1982 · 3/10 · 28 August 2023]

I enjoyed the first film, plenty of laughs albeit a silly film it was an enjoyable watch. The sequel though was just atrocious, I rarely do reviews bit felt compelled to to do do when I saw 3 10/10 reviews which are just absolute nonsense, such high scores are reserved for the best films you'll ever watch, this was just terrible.

The first gave me laughs, this one barely gave me a smirk, avoid it and stick to the first. I was hoping that it would at the very least give me a few laughs like the first did but neither myself or the family do so and we struggled to remain interested which was a shame.