Director: Dan Mazer
Cast: Robert De Niro, Zac Efron, Julianne Hough, Aubrey Plaza, Dermot Mulroney, Zoey Deutch, Adam Pally, Jason Mantzoukas, Mo Collins
Rating: 15
Running Time: 102 mins
Release Date: January 25th, 2016
DIRTY GRANDPA arrives at a time when R-rated comedies have bled nearly every scenario dry, from the arrival of ‘bro-mantic’ comedies that focus on male friendship (looking at you, Seth Rogen), to the emergence of female fronted comedies that proved they could be just as gross out as the boys; which was kicked off by BRIDESMAIDS in 2011. We’ve seen every variation of it and every age group represented. But DIRTY GRANDPA, not to spoil things here, allows the older generation to indulge in their wild side.
After the death of his wife, Robert De Niro’s Dick Kelly seeks out his nephew, Jason, played by Zac Efron, to take them both on a road trip, unknown to Efron he has plans that include going to Florida for spring break. Of course this is all happening days before Efron is bound to get married. Following the same mismatched pairing that is present in these kind of films, Dick Kelly and his nephew are completely different; Jason is stuffy, constantly pushed around and a bit of a nerd, while Dick Kelly hits on women at a golf course and beats up gangsters at a club.
Trying to suppress Efron into this role, he’s suppose to be playing someone who’s a bit of a dweeb, doesn’t really pay off. At his best when he’s playing up to his good looks and charisma, see BAD NEIGHBOURS for example, it’s hard to see Efron as the innocent, squeaky clean guy he is here.
As the film goes on it tries to embarrass and put him through as many humiliating situations as possible, but the film oddly doesn’t quite go far enough. One of its set pieces, involving a flex off against a bunch of other guys, goes for the obvious toilet humour that you would expect a child to have written. But not to say that Efron is entirely wrong for the film, as his comedic timing and willingness to go along with whatever the film asks of him is commendable. That’s not to even mention his chemistry with De Niro, which saves the film from falling into complete obscurity. The two bounce of each other well, partly because De Niro is having the time of his life here, obviously relishing the chance to let loose and show off his wild side.
Now, there comes a point with comedies where you can be as harsh a critic as you like, but if the film makes you laugh, than surely it’s achieved its goal? And with DIRTY GRANDPA, I laughed. A lot. Even if I wasn’t laughing, I was at least giggling. DIRTY GRANDPA aims for the grossest, dirtiest jokes; it’s juvenile, obscene and deeply silly but it’s cast are more then game to milk every scenario for any and every joke they can get and it helps that the cast is made up of some talented comedians.
Efron is fine with his delivery but it’s Aubrey Plaza and Jason Mantzoukas especially who bring everything they have to the table. Plaza is wonderfully deadpan and her flirtation with De Niro goes to some weird, but very funny places. Mantzoukas brings his trademark manic energy to a role that could have become grating but his line readings are just so funny that you become delighted whenever he shows up.
DIRTY GRANDPA is an enjoyably crass film, able to succeed entirely upon the chemistry of Zac Efron and Robert De Niro; De Niro especially is having the time of his life, cutting loose and spilling forth a slew of profanities that mostly hit more than they miss. This is one Grandpa you won’t mind spending time with.
Verdict
