
VACATION FRIENDS 2
Starring: John Cena, Meredith Hagner, Yvonne Orji, Lil Rel Howery, Carlos Santos, Steve Buscemi, and Ronny Chieng
Director: Clay Tarver

NICK

As much as the first Vacation Friends was a fun and ridiculous romp, it really didn't warrant a follow up. Now that I've seen the sequel in question, my opinion remains unchanged. There are some positives, and John Cena's over-the-top Ron is a highlight. Unfortunately, the shock value is diminished, and because of that, the script just isn't as funny this time around. Aside from new additions Steve Buscemi and Ronny Chieng, this all feels like a retread. The bar for comedy in 2023 has been set reasonably high with films like Joy Ride, and unfortunately, Vacation Friends 2 just doesn’t meet it.

CALEB

I ended up enjoying Vacation Friends 2 a lot more than its predecessor. The humour is still lowbrow and clichéd, but the cast is strong enough to sell most of it. Steve Buscemi, a notable addition, proves to have surprisingly great comedic chemistry with John Cena, and the film is at its best whenever they’re sharing the screen together, busting each other’s chops. While the plot is nothing groundbreaking, it works well enough as an entertaining vehicle for jokes. Vacation Friends 2 certainly won’t change your life, but there are worse ways to spend two hours.

KATIE

The only thing that saves Vacation Friends 2 from being an utter failure is the dedication of its cast. I found John Cena, playing Ron, genuinely funny and charming, and he was the reason for most of my laughs and favourite comedic set pieces. However, there are many competing and confusing subplots, which, despite the almost two-hour runtime, were all underdeveloped. This was especially disappointing as Emily (Yvonne Orji) and Marcus’ (Lil Rel Howery) baby drama, one of the more interesting deviations from the relentlessly unfunny plot, was seriously underutilized.

AMARÚ

Just like the original, Vacation Friends 2 constantly sits on the precipice of stupidity, yet somehow never falls over the line. The charming cast keeps you entertained just enough to overlook predictable plot points and ridiculously convenient premises, while John Cena continues to prove his comedic prowess, playing off the delightful chemistry from Lil Rel Howery and Yvonne Orji. But it’s Carlos Santos’ standout dry wit that most often reels the film back from the ledge. Vacation Friends 2 isn’t great by most means, but I once again didn’t regret killing two hours watching its absurdity.