After more than three decades, Son in Law 2: Crawl is Back brings Pauly Shore's most iconic character, Crawl, back to the screen in a follow-up that no one expected—but many are delighted to see. While the original 1993 cult comedy Son in Law thrived on culture clash, quirky charm, and early '90s flair, this 2025 sequel leans into nostalgia while injecting timely themes about family, aging, and finding relevance in a world that’s moved on.
The story picks up with Crawl—now in his early 50s—working as a podcast host in Los Angeles, still eccentric but slightly weathered by life. When Becca (Carla Gugino, reprising her role) reaches out to ask him to help with her son, Tyler, a rebellious 20-year-old who’s just been expelled from college, Crawl is pulled back into the Midwest for one more round of “farm life vs. free spirit.” This time, he’s not the outsider fighting to fit in—but the mentor trying to prove he’s still got what it takes.
The film balances slapstick comedy with heartwarming moments, never losing sight of what made the original memorable: the sheer unpredictability of Crawl himself. From wrecking a farmer’s convention to starting a TikTok dance craze at a barn wedding, Shore’s performance is self-aware, zany, and surprisingly touching. Newcomer Finn Wolfhard (playing Tyler) adds generational tension, while old favorites like Lane Smith’s character return in archival tribute scenes, giving longtime fans a reason to smile.
While critics might call it formulaic or even unnecessary, Son in Law 2 knows its audience. It doesn’t aim to be a cinematic masterpiece—it just wants to have fun. And it does. The jokes land more often than not, and the film earns its emotional beats through Crawl’s evolving relationship with Tyler and Becca. The screenplay even sneaks in commentary about cancel culture, generational divides, and mental health—handled with surprising grace amid the fart jokes and ferret gags.
With the film ending on a cliffhanger (Crawl accepting a job offer to run a summer camp for misfit teens), rumors are swirling about a possible third installment—tentatively titled Son in Law 3: Crawl Takes the Camp. Whether this comes to fruition or not, Shore’s return has already ignited a wave of fan enthusiasm and internet memes, solidifying Crawl’s place as a pop culture relic-turned-rebel-hero.
No official links yet from Disney or Touchstone, but fans can expect digital and streaming availability later this fall.
