Bad Grandpa

An interesting attempt to mould Jackass style stunts into a more traditional narrative feature; it doesn’t quite work, firstly because Baron Cohen has been here, done that more successfully, but even on its own terms, Jackass stunts are by definition “blackout” gags that defy continuity (emotional or otherwise) – once we are required to mine emotional poignancy from the relationship between Irving and Billy, the movie grinds to a shuddering halt because by definition there are no emotional stakes. If taken purely on the strength of its gags and stunts (which are much wittier than anything in the Jackass series thus far), it’s often belly-achingly funny (the ladies club scene had me roaring), and the performances of Knoxville and (especially) Nicoll cannot be faulted.