Review of Dirty Grandpa (2016) by Andrewburge — 02 May 2018

Let me just get this out of the way first: I have no problem with offensive humor. As long as something which aims to be funny is funny, it means it has served its purpose. The offensiveness is almost always worth it. On that note, Dan Mazer's 'Dirty Grandpa' manages to be offensive without being funny. Seriously, there are barely any jokes here which land. The best of which being one involving a scatophilic fantasy by retired Army veteran Dick Kelly (Robert De Niro) involving Queen Latifah and a hot air balloon, but only because De Niro used every single of his acting chops to deliver it as wacky and sudden as possible.

Alas, though! Not ever double Oscar winner Robert De Niro can save this sick and disgusting mess. It seems that writer John Phillips has the philosophy that as long as something is offensive, it has to be funny. But, of course! We love laughing at a drawing of a penis swastika shown to a rabbi, or mindless and absurd drug consumption or even accidental child pornography! We are a bunch of sick pervs! We do not require any attempt at trying to control this controversial scenes through humor. I mean, hey - its offensive so its gotta be funny. Right?

And this is not even the worst part! What really makes this film implode upon itself is the failure of its director of getting the best out of scenes which could have intelligent humor potential. One such example is when well-cut and straight as an arrow lawyer Jason Kelly (Zac Efron) ends up in jail after being led into drug consumption. He starts a conversation with the local police guards about human rights and law all while the two policemen mock him all while favoring the local drug dealer. But this scene progressively gets worse and worse and instead of dropping out of it, director Mazer keeps pushing transforming it into senseless, illogical and, at times, even disturbing gibberish.

To be honest, at the start, this looked like a pretty mediocre film. But close to the end, it gets messy and straight-up racist making a mockery of the African-American culture's use of the N-word, among others. It is offensive but not funny, aims to give family principles but ends up pairing an old retiree with a teenage girl and worst, is De Niro's worst screen choice yet... God knows we need 'The Irishman' now more than ever.