Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		2.0

Dirty Grandpa 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman June 8, 2018

Note: The following review was originally published when the initial Blu-ray release of Dirty Grandpa came out. Also note that the 4K UHD disc features the supposedly tamer theatrical cut of the film which clocks in some eight minutes shorter than the Unrated cut (included on the 1080p Blu-ray).

Was Robert De Niro seriously underpaid in his early career? This now iconic, even legendary, actor, perceived as certainly one of the finest of his generation if not the finest, has a filmography that has so many classic films in it it’s almost an embarrassment of riches. Mean Streets. The Godfather: Part II. Taxi Driver. The Deer Hunter. Raging Bull. GoodFellas. And that’s just through 1990, though truth be told starting with that tempestuous decade, the quality of De Niro’s projects started taking at least a noticeable decline which some curmudgeons may aver has reached precipitous levels by this second decade of the 21st century. Looking at De Niro’s oeuvre in the post-1990 timeframe can turn up a number of interesting, maybe even great (or at least pretty good), films, but most objective analysts would probably agree that De Niro seems to be into paycheck accrual more than quality offerings or even substantially challenging acting opportunities at this point. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The Fan. Meet the Fockers. Last Vegas. Hardly a list to equal the first one, at least by most folks’ estimation, but even the questionable blandishments of the foregoing “lesser” De Niro offerings will seem like a banquet of cinematic superiority when thrust up against the horrifying blandness that is Dirty Grandpa, a film that is certainly at, or at least near, the nadir of De Niro’s output.

It’s perhaps indicative of the desperation Lionsgate must have felt with this Blu-ray release that they hired some unfortunate marketing guru to package the review screener with a bunch of supposedly hilarious swag. The disc came in an “evidence bag” also containing a postcard with some cocktail recipes, a bikini top and a prescription bottle of breath mints masquerading as “Dick’s Little Helpers”. I’m really sorry to crush the dreams of whatever PR maven came up with these ideas, but aside from the drink menus, which could in fact come in handy for those wanting to view the film in an “altered” state, it’s all for naught, at least in terms of distracting from the inarguable fact that Dirty Grandpa is for all intents and purposes a waste of time.

It’s not even necessary for me to provide a plot summary, since Dirty Grandpa’s screenplay is so by the numbers. Instead, I’ll simply trot out another menu of sorts, one simply featuring the cliché ridden ingredients Dirty Grandpa mixes together in a completely rote manner. There is the somewhat estranged grandfather, Dick (Robert De Niro), and grandson, Jason (Zac Efron), who take a road trip together after the death of Dick’s wife. Along the way they have a serious of “hilarious” adventures, while Jason deals with a harridan fiancée named Meredith (Julianne Hough). Dick and Jason ultimately team up with two women named Lenore (Aubrey Plaza) and Shadia (Zoey Deutch), though a continuing Odd Couple ambience, with Jason as an uptight “Felix” and Dick the loosey goosey “Oscar”, continues to provide supposed comedic dividends.

Anyone with half a brain (which some curmudgeons may argue is half a brain more than the film’s screenwriter) will know exactly where this is going and pretty much exactly how it’s going to get there. The sad thing, or maybe the saddest thing, is how relentlessly unfunny Dirty Grandpa is. Even a completely predictable road film can offer significant humor if it’s handled correctly (Midnight Run, ironically enough), but Dirty Grandpa simply trades on what is becoming the increasingly tenuous star power of Robert De Niro.

Dirty Grandpa 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080p Blu-ray.

Dirty Grandpa is presented on 4K UHD courtesy of Lionsgate Films with a 2160p transfer in 2.40:1. Digitally captured with Arri Alexa XTs and finished at a 2K DI (according to the IMDb), Dirty Grandpa does show some agreeable upticks in fine detail and palette differentiation and saturation in this 4K version, but it also falls victim to the occasional noisiness that sometimes tends to afflict Lionsgate 4K UHD releases. Once again there doesn't really seem to be an identifiable reason why any given scene might suddenly look noisier than its "neighbors", but there are at least a couple of weird looking moments here, including at around 8:28 when Jason finds Dick naked in Dick's house. Later the same sort of swarm like looking backgrounds invade the jail scene that begins at around 41:50. Otherwise, though, detail levels are quite pleasing throughout, and the palette really pops extermely well in the many outdoor scenes. There are a number of fun new highlights in the palette courtesy of Dolby Vision, like the red seats in a diner booth, the purple on Dick's shirt late in the film or the yellow sweater Jason wears for much of the film. FIne detail on elements like the matching checked suit jackets the grandfather and grandson wear also look more precise in this version.

Dirty Grandpa 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Perhaps surprisingly, Dirty Grandpa has been granted a sonic upgrade to Dolby Atmos for this release, and with the film's use of perky source cues, there's good engagement of all the surround channels, even if it's arguable how much the Atmos channels really add to the mix (no pun intended). The film has the best audio immersion in some of the more chaotic scenes, like the big party sequence, but even in some of the "quieter" (a relative term with regard to this film) moments, there's good placement of ambient environmental effects, as in the golf course scene. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout the presentation, and there are no problems of any kind to report.

Dirty Grandpa 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Unless it was hiding somewhere, I didn't see the Audio Commentary listed on the 4K UHD disc. Otherwise, Lionsgate has ported over the rest of the supplements from the 1080p Blu-ray version:

• Gag Reel (1080p; 1:39)


• The Filthy Truth: The Making of Dirty Grandpa (1080p; 9:50) is the requisite EPK.


• Lessons in Seduction (1080p; 3:13) concentrates on the character of Lenore and her romantic inclinations.


• Daytona Heat (1080p; 3:47) shows what Reno 911 might have been like if it wasn't funny.


• I Got Nothin' to Hide: A Look at Daytona's Most Vibrant Drug Dealer (1080p; 5:58) focuses on the character of Pam.

Dirty Grandpa 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If our Forum is any indication, Dirty Grandpa does indeed have a devoted fanbase, and this release may well be welcomed by them. Video here encounters occasional hurdles, but the Atmos audio sounds great.