Grown Ups Sequel Happening - Adam Sander's Own Stranger in a Strange Land

"Sequel" is a foreign term for Adam Sandler.

In this day and age of turning every comic-book, old Saturday morning cartoon, television show and even toy-line into a $200 million blockbuster intended for mass-market consumption, it's fascinating to note how the former SNL alum turned comedy movie-star has never done one. That's because he's never had to.

Unlike for example Star Trek, where you're selling the characters of Kirk and Spock and their familiarity in pop-culture (plus the sci-fi and action, obviously) and not the actors filling the roles Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto, Sandler's position is so unique because he is the brand-name product in his own comedies. Regardless of the premise, people go in knowing what they'll get. Sandler will be a middle-to-upper class Joe with a smoking-hot wife and kids. There will be farts, falling down, old people harmed and always room for his old SNL cohorts to pop up in either prominent or minor parts depending on the absurdity of the plot.

It's a formula that's kept him, his pals in front of and behind the camera and, most importantly, Sony fat and happy over the years. So it's of interest to see Variety's scoop of Sony and Sandler's Happy Madison Productions are suddenly thinking sequel with the hiring of Fred Wolf to pen a follow-up to Grown Ups, the 2010 comedy that's hook was "See Adam Sandler and his old buddies hang out!" A hook that worked to the tune of $271 million, his biggest grossing comedy worldwide.

The official, press-release quotes will say the notion of reprising a role is what peaked his curiosity to do his first ever sequel. Don't buy into that bullshit. Sander's coming off Jack & Jill, which even his wide-demo and loyal audience looked at with contempt asking "Really, Adam?" and let's face it, one can't stay at the top forever.

Not to suggest it's all downhill from here for Sandler. He remains one of the few actors who secures asses in seats based on his mug slapped on the one-sheets. But I'd say going to a sequel to one of his bigger, and most popular, movies these days is more a sign of the times than anything else.