Movie Review - Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013)

Starring Johnny Knoxville and Jackson Nicoll 

Directed by Jeff Tremaine

A Jackass movie with a storyline is seemingly unheard of, but that's what Johnny Knoxville's crew presents to us here with mixed results.  Knoxville is Irving Zisman, an octogenarian who, following his wife's death, sets out across the country to take his grandson Billy (Jackson Nicoll) to his biological father.  Irving initially wants nothing to do with Billy, but realizes as they travel together that he's much better suited to watch over the boy rather than Billy's drug addicted parents.  

But let's be honest, Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa isn't really about a story.  Sure, it's kind of nice that it's included, but the film's real goal is to rely on hidden cameras capturing Irving and Billy playing practical jokes on unsuspecting victims.  Personally, this is a more enjoyable way to spend ninety minutes than seeing Knoxville and his buddies attempt to maim, harm, and one-up themselves in crazier and crazier ways, but much like the "regular" Jackass movies, certain gags work and certain gags don't.  When Knoxville and company succeed, I found myself laughing out loud, but when they fail, it felt like a bunch of juveniles being jackasses -- fitting, I guess.  I mean, scenes of projectile defecation and male members getting stuck in vending machines can only get you so far in the humor department.

Despite the criticism, I admittedly enjoyed the film.  Yes, there are long stretches where I pondered how long it would be until the movie was over and it's definitely more of a mixed bag than a solid bag of tricks, but my inner rebellious tween had a decent time.

The RyMickey Rating:  C+