Review of Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013) by Marty E — 21 Jul 2014

As prank movies go, this one isn't on the same level as Borat, but then nothing is. It does have an admirably committed lead performance by Johnny Knoxville, who I have to admit I don't hate - I think he can be funny, and actually liked his movie The Ringer.

There's something refreshing about just how juvenile and middle-school the Jackass crew's brand of humor is. The humor in this movie is vulgar and crude, sure; but it's never really that mean, and it doesn't make you feel worse about the world.

Some of the set-ups for pranks they pulled could have been more creative or made more of a satirical point, something Borat excelled at. There are also a few occasions where you can tell the pranks didn't work out as well as the crew had hoped they would.

But there are at least two genuinely hilarious set-pieces, one at an African-American night club and one at a little girls' beauty pageant, and the rest is amusing enough. It's not a full success, but it's funny enough to be worth watching.

It's also funny to note that Spike Jonze, the certified genius behind Her and Being John Malkovich, helped write the "screenplay" for this movie, whatever that means. I guess even Oscar-winning screenwriters appreciate a good dick joke or ten.