"The War with Grandpa" Early Movie Review

The War with Grandpa really takes the phrase "Everybody plays the fool" to heart. As usual for contemporary Hollywood, there are plenty of undignified and/or emasculated guys in this slapstick throwback but at least the humiliation is gender-neutral. The women, young and old alike, get disgraced right along with the dudes. In particular, coupled with 2016's horrendous Dirty Grandpa (and to a lesser extent, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle), The War with Grandpa completely obliterates star Robert De Niro's last shred of onscreen nobility.

Based on the 1984 novel of the same name, The War with Grandpa details the hostilities between retired contractor Ed and his grandson, Peter, when the former moves in with the family at the insistence of his daughter (and Peter's mom), Sally. The problem begins right away, because when Grandpa moves in Peter has to move as well -- straight into the attic. Infuriated by this turn of events and directing his anger in the wrong direction, Peter decides to make a formal declaration of war against his ancestor. Despite Ed's assurance that he a) Moved in under duress and b) Loves his grandson and doesn't want any bad blood between them, Peter is hellbent on getting his bedroom back at any cost. But there are caveats: no civilians (other family members) should be targeted and the "war" has to remain secret -- at least from Pete's parents, anyway.

Initially reluctant to do battle with a pre-teen blood relative, not to mention failing to take Peter's threat serious, and thus, falling victim to his opening salvo, Ed eventually retaliates against Peter's ever-increasing barrage of pranks.
Having been in an actual war, Ed sees through some of his grandson's amateur tactics and teaches the upstart the same lesson he gave Bradley Cooper's character in Limitless: There's no substitute for experience.

While the two nemeses do keep Peter's parents in the dark, each combatant nevertheless recruits troops to his respective side. Peter brings his school friends into the action. Meanwhile, Ed drafts fellow retirees and longtime buddies Danny and Jerry. And after a chance meeting at the grocery store where she works, he enlists a scrappy grandmother, Diane, as well. At one point he even bribes his Christmas-obsessed granddaughter, Jenny, into participating.

Phased, but still determined to reclaim his lost territory, Peter presses on and the booby traps and setups -- from both sides -- become increasingly outrageous, eventually requiring minor medical treatment for each general. Oh yes, there is blood. And collateral damage.

Cookies are promised, olive branches are refused, peace talks break down and snakes are unleashed, all leading to a literal broken home and a finale that would put even Kevin McCallister to shame. But this is a family movie so everything turns out fine...Or does it?

In theaters October 9.