Bad Grandpa (2013) Movie Review

BAD GRANDPA (2013) MOVIE REVIEW 

It's amazing how something so in your face can still remain to be as hilarious as ever. 

Brought to you by the Jackass crew, Bad Grandpa revolves around 86 year-old Irving Zisman (Johnny Knoxville) as he has been burdened with the task of taking his 8 year-old grandson, Billy (Jackson Nicoll) back to his real father Chuck (Greg Harris) in North Carolina. Essentially, the film is more or less a road-trip movie, except for the fact that it is Jackass' take on the often praised concept. For the most part, I actually enjoyed the movie's plot as it actually managed to make sense throughout the entirety of the movie. Every single pit-stop in the film does in fact relate to the progression of the plot, so props to the movie for that. Overall, I can't really talk too much about the actual story of the film as while it is in the movie, it's not what the film is supposed to focus around, obviously. 

Still of Jackson Nicoll pushing Johnny Knoxville
 in shopping cart

When I was watching the film, I think I saw the film very differently to what others were perceiving it as. This was because while people saw the movie as a hilarious movie, I saw it as both a hilarious film and a social experiment. Many times in the film, you see the grandpa go around and just mess with people and their businesses. In my eyes, I found it interesting how many people will turn a blind eye to what this elderly man is doing. For example, towards the start of the film, Irving attempts to mail Billy in a cardboard box. Upon discovering Billy inside the box, the two women almost do mail him as they are saying to Billy whether he would like a blanket for the trip. Seeing this made me laugh hard as if this is what the world has come to, then I think I like it this way. Other jokes in the movie were used incredibly well, one in particular was the nightclub scene as something happens that scares the dancers and the customers off, but I won't spoil what that something is. Lastly, the biggest aspect that got the most laughs out of me was the use of random civilians in the film. Unlike any Jackass movies before, this movie is a road-trip film and in that, this mismatched pair simply go around and mess with random people on the street or at other venues. Without question the best parts that this was utilized in was at a funeral, wedding and various stores across the film. For example, at the beginning of the movie, Irving gets his penis stuck in a soda machine (yep, you heard me). Anyhow, he gets his penis stuck and needs immediate assistance from randoms. As he is pleading and calling for help, all you hear and see are various people reacting to this in the most cruel and selfish ways. During this, one man was videoing him stuck and one simply laughed and drove off. This diverts back to how society has changed from the highest to the lowest common denominator. While the humour was really good, I feel that the trailer for the film showed a little too much, overall though, the comedy was excellent in the film and really opened my eyes and showed me how society had changed and how we treat each other. 

Still of Johnny Knoxville and Jackson Nicoll
charming a woman

As for the acting, I felt it was extremely strong considering this is a Jackass film. Johnny Knoxville plays the part of a horny old man perfectly as people do actually believe that he is a screwed up senior citizen. Just the way he manages to nail every single trait that an elderly person just managed to have my mind blown while watching the film. Jackson Nicoll as Billy also did a really good job as he is more or less the younger version of the Bad Grandpa, in which you can tell through the many acts that he performs in public. I also have to give props to him for not cracking a smile at whatever Johnny Knoxville says or does as some of the stuff he does is just too funny not to at least smile at. Anyhow, to be frank, those are more or less the two actors in the film and considering the movie is as good as it is, these two must have done phenomenal jobs in their respective roles. Overall, the acting was phenomenal considering that these two are more or less the only important characters throughout the entire movie. 

Still of Jackson Nicoll kicking chair out
underneath of Johnny Knoxville

Overall, Bad Grandpa is actually a really strong and hilarious film. Going into it, I was expecting more or less a shallow and poor attempt from the crew. However, they learnt from their rare mistakes and managed to pull out a film that in my opinion is almost as good as their last film, Jackass 3. 

OVERALL: 7.7/10