I was worried going into “Bad Grandpa” that they wouldn’t have enough content to sustain a feature length film. What made the “Jackass” series so palatable was the variety. The three films in that series, much like the show, consisted of random stunts & pranks. One second you’re watching Steve-O being launched into the sky in a port-a-potty, the next you’re seeing Johnny Knoxville dressed as a crude old man. The latter of which was very popular and is the basis for this spin-off.
I was pleasantly surprised to see they had enough content to fill ninety-two minute runtime. Even more surprising is that there’s a story involved here. That being the tale of Billy (Jackson Nicoll), a young boy who’s mother is going to jail for drugs. The film opens with him explaining this to random strangers, immediately starting us off with a huge guffaw. He’s then told he’s going to live with his distant and abusive father and that his grandfather, Irving Zisman (Johnny Knoxville), is going to transport him there. Irving is reluctant, but agrees.
It’s through this road trip that the stunts & pranks are staged. Sold as being real, though I have my doubts on some, each one has Irving & Billy getting into wild hijinks. These range from shoplifting at a convenience store, taking a rocky ride on a fifty-cent rocket, a scene that takes the most memorable scene from “Little Miss Sunshine” and cranks it up many notches, Billy trying to convince strangers to be his new parents and Irving constantly hitting on women. There’s much more in the film, most of which are more outrageous, but I’m going to hold back on announcing them. The joy in these films is being surprised by the antics. I won’t ruin that for you.
What’s nice is that there is a wide variety of gags they utilize. The patented toilet humor, haywire stunts and male genitalia is present throughout, but they pepper in other situations for the two to get involved in. Some of the best moments come from Billy, played with bewildered charm by Nicoll, especially when interacting with strangers. He inherits the innocence that most children have in adult situations, this time taken to the extreme. Though he does realize how much of a drunken ass his grandfather is.
Yet, there’s a sweetness lying beneath the stunts. Irving & Billy slowly begin to bond during their trip, leading to a surprisingly emotional sequence. Granted, it does feel out of place, as you’ve been assaulted for the past hour with shocking humor. But, Jeff Tremaine makes it work without completely sacrificing the abrasive humor.
While “Bad Grandpa” isn’t as funny as any of the “Jackass” films, it comes pretty damn close! It rarely slows down, keeping a consistent output of laughs. Even when it does sag (sometimes literally), there’s another great gag waiting just around the corner. The direct narrative helped carry the film, making the candid camera stunts feel more organic. If you’re a fan of the series that spawned this spin-off, you’ll love this!
Final Rating: B+