What separates Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa apart from the other films is the franchise is that this film attempts to present itself with a narrative composed of a beginning, middle, and end rather than just a calvacade of pain inflicting (admittedly hilarious) stunts and pranks. Yet despite this, it still takes place in the real world, with Johnny Knoxville, Jackson Nicoll, and a select few other planted extras being the only people aware of that is going on is just a movie.
Bad Grandpa is the story of recently widowed Irving Zisman, whose daughter has just violated her parole and charges him with delivering his grandson Billy to his father in North Carolina. Along the way, they engage in several hijinks.
I don't think anyone went into this film expecting an actual story, yet the fact that it tries to wrap its various pranks and stunts with an actual (albeit loose) plot is rather impressive. Its not as consistently funny as previous Jackass films are, but in the spots where the humor occurs, it is laugh out loud hilarious. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll have a great time. Surprisingly, it is not only transcendently humorous, but the plot actually has heart. Mind you it isn't deeply emotional and on the level of a tragedy, but if you feel nothing for the characters, you are in the wrong theater.
Johnny Knoxville has never been an above average actor, but give the man credit, he is good at what he does. The fact that he has gone through thirteen years of Jackass suffering nothing more serious than a torn urethra is not only miraculous, but shows how durable and determined he is. Here, he doesn't break character until the camera stops rolling, and when he's on, he's having fun with himself.
I must also give credit to young Jackson Nicoll. For someone his age, he is surprisingly professional. You would think that an eight year old it would be blurt it out, and reveal the joke to the targets, but he sustains the ruse on par with Knoxville. Well done.
Go for it, and stay all the way through the credits. It's not only the best comedy in theaters right now, it's surprisingly gripping.
B+
I hated to admit that I even went to see a Jackass film in the theater, I had watched the others on DVD, but parts of this movie are hilarious. Johnny Knoxville is a tremendous physical comic. The two played well off each other.
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