In Dirty Grandpa, Zac Efron’s do-gooder Jason Kelly has no idea what he’s getting himself into. When he innocently agrees to help his recently-windowed grandfather (Robert De Niro) get over his loss, Kelly finds himself strung along on the most outrageous of journeys, as his old old man sets about grabbing life by the short and curlies during his twilight years.
Whether you’re excited about Dirty Grandpa – directed by Dan Mazer – will largely depend on your tolerance of De Niro’s more eclectic career choices over the past half-decade or so. It seems no that for every return to form in a film such as Silver Linings Playbook or Joy, we’re left to contend with a cookie-cutter comedy that does little more than to exaggerate the fact that, yes, De Niro is no longer as young as he used to be.
And while Last Vegas featured enough charm no thanks to its ensemble cast of acting veterans, we’re tempering our expectations for Dirty Grandpa. Judging by the most recent trailer, it’s an R-rated romp filled with nine kinds of age-inappropiate shenanigans, though perhaps the final feature will prove us wrong. Just don’t bet on it.
Julianne Hough, Aubrey Plaza, Dermot Mulroney, Zoey Deutch, Jason Mantzoukas, Adam Pally and Henry Zebrowski round out the cast for the comedy. Dan Mazer’s Dirty Grandpa lands in theaters on January 22, 2016.
Jason Kelly [Zac Efron] is one week away from marrying his boss’s uber-controlling daughter, putting him on the fast track for a partnership at the law firm. However, when the straight-laced Jason is tricked into driving his foul-mouthed grandfather, Dick [Robert De Niro], to Daytona for spring break, his pending nuptials are suddenly in jeopardy. Between riotous frat parties, bar fights, and an epic night of karaoke, Dick is on a quest to live his life to the fullest and bring Jason along for the ride. Ultimately, on the wildest journey of their lives, “dirty” Grandpa and his uptight grandson discover they can learn from one another and form the bond they never had.
