Dirty Grandpa (2016) | Film Review

There is something oddly sad about watching ‘Dirty Grandpa’. Here we have one of our greatest cinematic icons in Robert DeNiro, a man whose mere glance can strike fear in the hearts of lesser men. Filmdom’s Batman, if you will. He also has made several great comedies over the years (‘Midnight Run’, ‘Meet the Parents’), therefore he has proven himself in virtually every genre, including comedy. He has also become a successful producer and champion of the arts over the last few decades. So why, in all that is holy, is he masturbating in a La-Z-Boy?

No, I’m not a prude. I can get into a good gross-out comedy as much as the next guy, unlike most critics who hated this flick before it ever hit theaters. It’s even nice to see an actor of DeNiro’s stature allowing himself to loosen up a bit. The problem here is that the plot of ‘Dirty Grandpa’ is so paper thin – Grandma dies, so Grandpa (DeNiro) tasks his grandson, Jason (Zac Efron), with driving him to Florida right before Jason’s wedding to uptight & self-absorbed Meredith (Julianne Hough), all so Grandpa can nail a college girl – it feels more like a Saturday Night Live skit. A modern one too, because it is that horribly written.

DeNiro drops more crude profanity than a sailor on shore leave, and Efron does his best to grow from stick-in-the-mud to party-animal – and Efron really does have the comedy chops to pull it off – but ‘Dirty Grandpa’ is just a really weakly made film. Is it funny? Sure, there are parts where you will laugh your bum off – particularly any scene where Aubrey Plaza is allowed to perfect her version of a sexed-up, vulgar Grumpy Cat – and then you will remember what a poorly structured movie this. Every ounce of ‘story’ here is built to be a coincidence to get to the next attempted joke. Not only is it a story built on contrivances, every line that will have you kicking the seat in front of you laughing is immediately followed by four or five more groan-worthy ones that might just cause your eyes to roll onto the floor.

‘Dirty Grandpa’ is not a good movie, nor is it an awful one, hell it’s really not even a movie at all. It’s a crassly assembled sketch comedy that drags on way too long. If you have a group of friends interested in a ridiculous comedy – or you have ingested copious amounts of booze and pills – you’ll probably have a great time. This is the audience the film was built for. But if you are looking for a solid film starring a brilliant actor at the top of his comedic game? Apparently, he’s retired.

Aaron Peterson
The Hollywood Outsider