Lou Lumenick

Lou Lumenick

Movies

‘Back in the Day’ should stay in the past

This is basically an indie version of “Grown Ups’’ featuring longtime and unfunny Adam Sandler hanger-on Nick Swardson, who received a well-deserved Razzie nomination this week for his work in “Grown Ups 2’’ and “A Haunted House.’’

Michael Rosenbaum, who played Lex Luthor on TV’s “Smallville,’’ makes his inauspicious feature directorial debut with this raunchy vanity project in which he has the lead role of a struggling Hollywood actor best known for insurance commercials.

Returning to his Indiana hometown for his 20th high school reunion, Rosenbaum indulges in booze and high jinks with pals Swardson, Harland Williams, Kristoffer Polaha and Isaiah Mustafa. And Rosenbaum contemplates dealing with his midlife crisis by pursuing an engaged old flame played by Morena Baccarin of “Homeland,’’ who deserves better than this stale, schmaltzy and testosterone-drenched comedy.