If I told you there was a new movie opening this weekend that starred Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, Uma Thurman, Jane Seymore, and Cheech Marin, you would fully expect it to be a drama, possibly even one filled with adult-themed violence and crime elements — maybe even directed by Quentin Tarantino. What if I told you that all five are starring in a new project called The War With Grandpa, and it’s a family film? Would you even believe me? Well, it’s true, and the solid cast adds gravitas to the story based off an award-winning 1984 book by Robert Kimmel Smith, creating a fun family film in a time when “fun” and “family” can both be strained concepts.
The War With Grandpa is the story of 11-year-old Peter (Oakes Fegley), who has to give up his bedroom when his grandfather, Ed (De Niro) moves in. Ed is struggling with life after work, mourning the loss of his wife, and trying to fit into a world that is more advanced than he realizes. His daughter, Sally (Thurman), insists that he move in with her and her family, offering him Peter’s room and creating two forces unhappy with their situations, leading to the titular conflict. Peter wants his bedroom back, and Ed just wants to be left alone with his vintage records and the pictures of his wife.
The clashes between Peter and Ed start off in good humor, but the attacks on both sides escalate quickly, drawing in the family and both Peter’s and Ed’s friends. Walken and Marin play Ed’s friends, who keep encouraging the old man to meet his adversary with force — even if he is an 11-year-old kid — and Peter’s friends, played by Juliocaesar Chavez, Isaac Kragten, and T.J. McGibbon, think he’s being ridiculous.
Throughout The War With Grandpa, Peter’s parents, played by Thurman and Rob Riggle, seem oblivious to the war, as they each have subplots of their own they are dealing with. Mom Sally is dealing with teen daughter Mia (Laura Marano) and her boyfriend, Russell (Colin Ford). Dad Arthur is trying to escape his job as a low-level designer at an architecture firm to strike out on his own, even as Ed constantly mocks him for his career path.
Rounding out the family is 5-year-old Jennifer (Poppy Gagnon), who is obsessed with Christmas, and who serves as the mediator in the ongoing war. Her birthday party is also the scene of the final volleys in the battle, wrapping up the story in a satisfying, if not telegraphed way. Gagnon steals the movie from her much more seasoned co-stars, and her Jennifer is the one normal constant in this raging sea of war.
The script by Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember does a good job keeping the voices separate. Peter and his friends have one distinct voice, as do Ed and his friends. There is humor in both, depending on your age. Director Tim Hill is a veteran writer and director for Spongebob Squarepants, as well as other family-friendly fare, so he manages to keep the project within the proper all-ages constraints to tell the story.
The War With Grandpa is 100% a family film, so the conflicts between the two warring sides are more on the classic slapstick side, played for laughs, with De Niro obviously having fun as Ed. Many people might bemoan that De Niro would “stoop” to a role like this, but in reality, he’s near perfect as Ed. Not every role needs to be considered an Oscar contender, and De Niro understands this. Sometimes, it’s just fun to cut loose and make art for all ages, and not just academy voters.
This is the perfect family film in a time when family is both important and strained due to the coronavirus pandemic — especially with the holidays right around the corner. It was nice to just sit back and watch a film and lose myself in the troubles of this fractured family and to watch them come back together in the end. Formulaic or not, it gives me hope that our entire world will one day soon end the war and come together again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EohVvIWg-Oc
The War With Grandpa is rated PG and will be released into theaters with limited showtimes this weekend. Check your local listings.
