The War with Grandpa (2020)

Directed by: Tim Hill | 98 minutes | comedy, drama | Actors: Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman, Rob Riggle, Oakes Fegley, Laura Marano, Cheech Marin, Jane Seymour, Christopher Walken, Juliocesar Chavez, Isaac Kragten, TJ McGibbon, Poppy Gagnon, Lydia Styslinger, Joe Gelchion, Colin Ford, Faizon Love , Rutanya Alda

When you have achieved everything you wanted to achieve as an actor, what do you do? In Robert De Niro’s case, acting in movies is what you feel like. It doesn’t matter that these are often cringingly bad productions like ‘Dirty Grandpa’. It’s to this actor’s credit that he just does what he likes and doesn’t let himself be influenced by his fans who prefer to see this acting cannon in more serious work. Admittedly, it’s also quite harrowing to see the man who featured in iconic masterpieces like ‘Taxi Driver’, ‘Cape Fear’ and ‘The Godfather II’ in flat sex comedies. But if that makes this senior happy, why not? Also ‘The War with Grandpa’ will not make fans of the first hour happy. Fortunately, this corny comedy isn’t as painfully bad as that other movie with “Grandpa” in the title.

In ‘The War with Grandpa’ Grandpa (De Niro) is allowed to live with his children after the death of his wife. His grandson Peter (Oakes Fegley) initially likes this news, until it turns out that grandfather is going to sleep in his room. Peter has to go to the attic and that is not to his liking. So what do you do as a ten-year-old rascal? Right, you declare war on your grandfather! Grandfather, however, is a worthy opponent.

Director Tim Hill wanted to make a sympathetic film for children. He certainly succeeded, because ‘The War with Grandpa’ will certainly strike the right chord with the target group. This cross between ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Step Brothers’ goes nicely over the top without being rude. This is a cartoonish comedy that will do well on rainy days and on family evenings where the kids get to choose a movie.

De Niro is having a good time and portrays a sympathetic and mischievous grandfather. He gets good counterplay from Fegley and their chemistry is fun to watch. This is not a ‘Taxi Driver’, but just a nice family film in which De Niro delivers good performance. This film is the best in its genre. So quite enough.