The War with Grandpa
Diamond Films | Release Date: October 9, 2020 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
34
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 23 Critic Reviews
Positive:
0
Mixed:
12
Negative:
11
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
38
Slant MagazineDan RubinsOct 9, 2020
Only when left to their own devices do the film’s stars enter the less manic, more heartfelt realm of the book. Read full review
37
Washington PostMichael O'SullivanOct 9, 2020
In lieu of genuine high jinks, a series of escalating slapstick pranks ensues between Peter and Ed, including mishaps with a drone, a snake and a human corpse. None of them is especially amusing. Read full review
33
The PlaylistAsher LubertoOct 12, 2020
Bright spots are found in the supporting cast, though the less said about Faizon Love‘s portrayal of a black belt grocery clerk, the better. Walken is legitimately great as an old guy trying to be hip, a sort of exaggerated version of what Thurman is doing as the cool but protective mom. They just aren’t enough to pull The War With Grandpa and De Niro out of the gutter. Read full review
33
IndieWireJude DryOct 8, 2020
The War With Grandpa is a sluggish hodgepodge of slapstick humor that barely holds together its illogically motivated plot. Read full review
30
Austin ChronicleSteve DavisOct 9, 2020
The ho-hum practical jokes the two inflict upon the other can be described as Home Alone lite: No concussion-inducing swinging paint cans or burn-inducing doorknobs inspired by Looney Tunes violence here. Which, of course, takes all the fun out of it. Read full review
30
VarietyOwen GleibermanOct 8, 2020
The combat is neither funny nor intense. The War with Grandpa is like “Home Alone” replayed as a tit-for-tat battle of logistical booby traps that never rises above the innocuous slapstick benign. Read full review
30
Los Angeles TimesMichael OrdoñaOct 8, 2020
The “pranks” just aren’t funny. The whole premise isn’t funny. Read full review
25
ReelViewsJames BerardinelliOct 9, 2020
Chock-full of unfunny humor, bland characters with nonsensical motivations, and tedious subplots, the entire endeavor might have been shelved if not for the participation of De Niro, Uma Thurman, Cheech Marin, Jane Seymour, and Christopher Walken. A cast like that doesn’t get swept under the rug or sent direct-to-video. Read full review
25
RogerEbert.comChristy LemireOct 9, 2020
No one needs a paycheck this badly. This goes far beyond the one-for-me, one-for-them theory of role choices. Read full review
20
Rolling StoneDavid FearOct 15, 2020
It’s 94 minutes that you won’t remember seconds after its over. You could always just throw down the white flag before shots are fired and save yourself the trouble. Read full review
0
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleOct 9, 2020
When the books are written, The War With Grandpa — the first family film to hit theaters since the pandemic — will have a special place in De Niro’s vast and varied cinematic legacy as the absolute worst movie he ever made. Read full review
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