Is this a PG rated comedy? Yes it is, but when you pair Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken together I don’t care if its a hemorrhoids commercial I am absolutely watching. I know Dirty Grandpa starring De Niro and Zac Efron was hammered by critics and viewers alike, but I actually really enjoyed it. It is one of those raunchy R-rated comedies that you know pretty much what to expect once you’ve seen the trailer. Oddly enough, Dirty Grandpa is the first movie I reviewed for this site nearly 5 years ago, and I remember sitting in the theater and during one of the first scenes De Niro is “keeping himself company” if you know what I mean and Efron walks in on him. An older guy easily late 60’s/early 70’s walked out of the theater right then with the most disgusted look on his face, it was glorious. He was definitely one of those old dudes who shows up to the theater and decides what he wants to see by looking at the movie posters - he won’t make that mistake again.
Now back to the family-friendly content I promised. The War With Grandpa tells the story of a kid named Peter who is upset that he now has to share the room he loves with his grandfather, so he decides to declare war in an attempt to get it back. This forces both sides to team up with their age appropriate friends leading to what looks like some hilarious moments.
Considering it is a PG movie, I was a little hesitant myself at first but with a cast that also includes Uma Thurman, Jane Seymour, Rob Riggle, Cheech Marin, and up-and-coming young actor Oakes Fegley (Pete’s Dragon), this has the makings of a classic the entire family can enjoy. The film is based on a book written by Robert Kimmell Smith.
Watch the trailer for The War with Grandpa below and you can thank me later.
And if interested you can read our review for Dirty Grandpa (2016) here just make sure the kids are in bed before you decide to watch this raunchy comedy.