Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa .5 Blu-ray Movie Review

"All new movie?" More like "all new supplement."

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 7, 2014

Bad Grandpa .5 isn't a new movie, per se, but rather an extension of the Oscar-nominated hit of the same name (minus the ".5") that plays more like an 80-minute companion supplement rather than a unique standalone slice of entertainment. This film, which debuted on MTV several weeks prior to its Blu-ray release, takes audiences on a behind-the-scenes tour of everything Bad Grandpa, Irving, and a few old friends as they embark on the journey to make the feature film.

Transforming.

Bad Grandpa .5 explores a number of avenues as they pertain to the film and its title character's history. The piece begins back in 2001 with a look at the original character and the makeup evolution from then to now, emphasizing that it was the makeup's absolute seamlessness -- which earned the picture a surprise Oscar nomination -- that allowed the film to work as well as it did. This piece also examines in further detail some of the original film's more memorable sequences, including Irving's run-in with a man after plowing over a restaurant penguin and his performance at a strip club. It takes a look at the challenges of the shoot -- hiding cameras and ensuring continuity -- and the making of some of the more revealing prosthetics. A number of new skits are featured, including ones showcasing Irving stealing a man's wallet, bumming a cigarette and proceeding to go on an anti-smoking diatribe, and a number with him and "lady friends" Catherine Keener and Spike Jonez.

Though Bad Grandpa .5 plays more like a glorified Blu-ray supplement rather than an "all new movie" as advertising materials proclaim, there's still a good bit of value here, particularly if prospective viewers can pick it up at a rock-bottom price. The number of deleted and extended scenes are a treasure trove of Bad Grandpa goodness, particularly as the film winds down and plays with Spike Jonez's "Gloria" character, an elderly woman who lactates on demand and attempts to pick up younger men at a restaurant in one segment and who sits down with Irving for couples sex therapy in another. Knoxville remains the star, however, with a number of new and extended scenes featuring Irving getting himself into all sorts of trouble -- some of the gags work, others do not -- in an effort to splice together enough crude humor to make a hidden camera movie. There's precious little of young Jackson Nicoll, who here is relegated to little more than a glorified prop and stand-in in several scenes, a shame considering his dominance in the feature film. Still, the plethora of new footage blended with a surprisingly in-depth behind-the-scenes content make this a must-see for fans, though many will be rightly miffed that this wasn't just included with the original release when it debuted only five or so months ago.

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa .5 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Bad Grandpa .5 arrives on Blu-ray with a fairly good 1080p transfer. The 1.78:1 image reveals a video quality similar to the Bad Grandpa release in the most polished, film-ready segments, all of which, of course, depend greatly on camera quality, placement, lighting, and other details that aren't always under the filmmakers' total control when making a movie of this variety. Still, these segments manage to reveal strong, even colors and consistently impressive details, particularly in close-ups where the true seamlessness of the makeup is put to the test. There's some footage sourced from noticeably lower grade equipment that results in fuzzy details, sloppy colors, and plenty of compression issues and/or noise. The behind-the-scenes segments fare best of all, featuring stable, crisp HD video imagery that faultlessly brings textures and colors to vivid life.

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa .5 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Bad Grandpa .5 isn't the sort of movie from which one expects a robust, sprawling, memorable sort of listen, and indeed, this presentation handles the film needs without going above and beyond the call of duty. Paramount's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack delivers clear, center-focused dialogue, the mainstay of the production and well-defined whether in behind-the-scenes interviews or on-location character interactions with unsuspecting people. There are a few good background elements throughout, including cars zipping by during the "penguin" episode. A good burst of energy pours into the listing area during the strip club sequence, presenting listeners with the heaviest and most invigorating sonic moment in the film. Overall, this is a good, even track that carries the film and its hodgepodge of material well.

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa .5 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Bad Grandpa .5 contains several extras, outlined below.

• Round Table Interview (1080p, 12:26): Johnny Knoxville, Spike Jonze, and Jeff Tremaine share some tales from their collaboration.
• Casting Billy (1080p, 3:16): Brief interview snippets with Actor Jackson Nicoll and cast, making sure the young actor was ready for the role by staging a prank, and more.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Irving and Billy Get on a Bus (2:42), False Teeth (0:39), Colostomy Bag/Pizza Delivery (2:06), Bad Driver/Bookshelves (0:15), Bad Driver/Newsstand (0:53), Bad Driver/Trash Cans (0:27), C.B. Radio (2:25), and Rolling Dice (1:52).
• Outtakes (1080p, 13:56).

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa .5 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In a world prior to the invention of home video supplements, Bad Grandpa .5 might have proven a strong release. Here, however, it feels like a studio charging an extra few dollars for a supplement -- an excellent supplement, but a supplement nonetheless -- that very well could have been included on the original Blu-ray. Die-hard Bad Grandpa fans will find enough value here in the mixture of new and alternate footage as well as the lengthy behind-the-scenes process and interview segments to make a purchase worthwhile. Others might be smart to wait it out and hope that there's some sort of bundle or re-release with everything Bad Grandpa in one package later on down the line.