Review: The War With Grandpa
Rating: B
Coming out this Friday is the new comedy The War With Grandpa. This film features an all-star cast including Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, Uma Thurman, Laura Marano, Oakes Fegley, Rob Riggle, Cheech Marin and Jane Seymour. The movie is based on the award-winning book by Robert Kimmel Smith. The premise of the film is simple. Robert De Niro plays Ed, a newly widowed man whose daughter (Uma Thurman) is learning that he cannot be left on his own to care for himself decides to move him in to her family’s home. The problem with this rests with her son Peter, played by Oakes Fegley. In order for Ed to move into their family home Peter must give up his bedroom and move into the musty, dark, and creepy attic. This move sets in to motion the events of the film. Determined to reclaim what is his Peter officially declares war with his Grandpa over the bedroom. The events that unfold from there feature consequences and hilarity on both sides of the battle.
This film is going to really be a solid family film for people to check out. It has humor for the older crowd curtesy of Ed and his buddies and humor for younger teens as well from Pete and his friends. There is enough there to keep people engaged in the film. This is not going to be the funniest thing you have ever seen by far and a lot of it feels similar to other films with the same slapstick kind of humor, but overall, it gets the job done. De Niro feels right for this role, but I feel like they could have made his character even edgier during his battles with his grandson. I also feel like they seriously under used his friends in the film because we all know Christopher Walken and Cheech Marin can bring a lot to the table. Even Jane Seymour could have brought a lot more humor to the film. Peter and his friends bring the very stereotypical junior high jokes to the game about bullying and then flip the switch to get very in depth with their views on how to take on this war with Ed. Uma Thurman and Rob Riggle’s characters also feel wildly under used. They are entertaining when they are on the screen, but I found myself wishing to see them more and to have them have more input into the things. As it stands, they are odd background characters in their own house for much of the film.
The War itself is very over the top. Both sides feature stunts that would probably not work out very well in reality or be complete unable to pull off by either party. From a 6th grader getting their hands on an unused car air bag to your grandpa being able to strategically fly a high tech drone, these stunts will definitely give you pause. Not to mention for the older characters in the film I am pretty sure most of these stunts would leave them in the hospital because if my 40 year old self can sleep wrong and need to see a chiropractor then I know these stunts would do a number on someone almost twice my age. I know, it is a movie, I get it, but I had to say it. I just had to.
Overall, I had to score this movie with a B. It is not going to blow you mind but it is enjoyable to watch. Families should have a good time with this one. This humor feels similar to movies like Grumpy Old Men and Uncle Buck so if that is your thing you will definitely not want to miss The War With Grandpa. It is worth a watch if you want to just kick back and check out something simple and fun that your whole family can enjoy together.
The War With Grandpa opens in theaters October 9, 2020.
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