Review of Dirty Grandpa (2016) by Yorkman — 03 Feb 2016

There's a lot of negativity surrounding this film and, while some is well deserved, quite a lot isn't. It's an 'exactly what it says on the tin' movie, so if you've seen the trailer and want to watch, you won't find anything beyond your own expectations.

De Niro plays 'dirty' grandpa next to Efron's preppy lawyer, soon to be married, thumb up his own arse, grandson. At the after funeral party of his wife, De Niro insists that Efron drive him down to Florida for what would be his Grandpa's annual trip there.

Cue sex gags, lots of women in bikinis, drug taking, beer chugging and more uses of the 'F' word by De Niro since Goodfellas (and probably a whole lot more actually).

The storyline itself isn't the main draw, it's the undeniable on-screen chemistry between De Niro and Efron, they look like they're both having fun playing against type, and it's De Niro's best comedy performance since Midnight Run.

Action/comedy are the watchwords, but there are some genuinely amusing 'out of the blue' moments that I wasn't expecting.

However, the rest of the film isn't brilliant. There are various stereotypical lesser characters: Efron's uptight, bossy fiance... The weird older brother... Indian(?) shop owner who sells narcotics... Bumbling muscly dudes from the Lacrosse team... Hot college girl who wants the 'sex trifecta' and actively goes after DeNiro....

Even the romance between Efron and his high school sweetheart is overly forced, as we all know exactly how it will end, even if the ride getting there is a fairly fun one....

Overall, it's not the abject disaster which everyone claims it to be. It's no 'Midnight Run' in terms of a De Niro comedy, but it's no 'Meet the Fockers' either (I so hate that film!!!)... It nicely sits in the middle, offering a decent slice of laughter, served with a sizeable portion of unoriginality.