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It seems like either Robert De Niro is only getting offered comedies lately, or he’s actively seeking them out. He’s also reached the age where he’s playing grandfathers, which is fine when you’re as cool as he is. The new movie DIRTY GRANDPA pairs him with Zac Efron, who very recently poked fun at De Niro’s theatrical career in a memorable scene from the comedy NEIGHBORS. There’s nothing all that surprising here, young Jason (Efron) is on the verge of getting married to a neurotic woman (Julianne Hough), but ends up going on a trip with his recently widowed grandfather Dick (De Niro) who questions his choice in a potential wife. They wind up in the middle of a Spring Break celebration while on their journey, and meet a couple of women played by Zoey Deutch and Aubrey Plaza… can you guess where everything is headed? If not the new red band trailer will tell ya.
It’s easy to draw comparisons to road comedies like LAST VEGAS, ROAD TRIP, and even PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES. What we don’t see much of in the trailer is the lovely Zoey Deutch, who I think it just the right role away from becoming a superstar… not sure if this will be it though. DIRTY GRANDPA is directed by Dan Mazer (I GIVE IT A YEAR), and the supporting cast includes Dermot Mulroney, Adam Pally, Jason Mantzoukas and Henry Zebrowski. Take a look at the trailer and tell us your thoughts in the comments. I’ll say this, their funny homage to THE GRADUATE in that poster above is pretty clever.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
