‘Vacation Friends 2’ Movie Review: A Very OK Sequel To A Very OK Comedy
Photo from Hulu
From Jeremy Kibler
Vacation Friends 2 only exists for Lil Rel Howery, Yvonne Orji, John Cena, and Meredith Hagner to hang out in a tropical location. Again. As unnecessary sequels go, it’s a strained follow-up to the wacky 2021 romp—a hit for Hulu—that was never as funny or entertaining as it should have been. It was okay for a few goofy laughs and found an uninhibited team in ultimate himbo Cena and the daffy Hagner, but mostly, Vacation Friends was just a harmless, mediocre time-passer.
It had two couples, each of them playing different extremes and meeting in the middle. Playing chaos incarnate, Cena and Hagner were the wild types, Ron and Kyla, who love cocaine but love each other more, and brought disaster wherever they went. The actors were game and their doubly zany, anything-goes energy could have led to weirder, more dangerous places.
In the sequel, Lil Rel Howery’s exasperated Marcus and Yvonne Orji’s level-headed Emily hope for another relaxing vacation at a Caribbean resort. They’re quickly blindsided by Ron and Kyla, of course. The only real differences this time? Ron and Kyla now have a baby boy and have somehow kept him alive, while Emily hasn’t told Marcus she’s having second thoughts about having children of their own. Marcus is also hoping to land a job as the head of construction at the resort, run by a Korean company, and having to compete against Yeon (Ronny Chieng). Then Ron finally meets his ex-con father-in-law, Reese (Steve Buscemi), and wants him to like him. What could possibly go right?
Written and directed again by Clay Carver, Vacation Friends 2 does have that same good-times vibe because of its cast committed to making this ridiculous material sing. The idea of Steve Buscemi as Kyla’s fresh-out-of-San-Quinton father is amusing, but what should be a secret weapon in having Buscemi just simply show up doesn’t quite pay off. A drug-deal plot also fills out the run time, as well as a subplot for fifth-wheel Maurillio (an endearing Carlos Santos) to babysit. It all proves to be a flimsy, tedious excuse to get this gang involved in some wild, shrill hijinks.
Vacation Friends 2 wants to be raucous, and it does approach that aim when Team Cena-Hagner is given carte-blanche. It all just becomes annoying and one-note, and then it wants to apologize for its crudeness with touchy-feely emotions. Maybe these vacation friends should just stay home next time.
Rating: 2/5
Vacation Friends 2 is currently streaming on Hulu.
