Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
Jason Kelly 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, 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.
Dirty Grandpa is a crude road-trip comedy that recycles almost every familiar beat of the uptight-guy-let-loose genre without meaningful variation. The plot is thoroughly formulaic — mismatched duo, wrong fiancée, road trip revelation, predictable redemption arc — earning a low Novelty score. Robert De Niro commits to the role with surprising gusto and Zac Efron has charm, but neither elevates material that keeps them trapped in one-note gags. Cinematography is workmanlike at best, typical of low-ambition studio comedies. The ending resolves exactly as telegraphed from the opening minutes. The film has a cult following for its sheer audacity of crude humor, but audacity alone doesn't distinguish it from countless similar outings.