ugh...why?

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013)

Noms: Makeup and Hairstyling

Why I watched it:

1) I've had the DVD from Netflix since before this year's ceremony and I only just got up the wherewithal to actually watch it

I can't believe the Academy made me watch this. I had never seen a Jackass movie before, and all my reservations were completely confirmed. The only reason I think I could even stomach the whole thing was that my roommates were watching and sharing in my horror.

I laughed a few times, mostly at the candid reactions of the people caught on camera. Johnny Knoxville as the Grandpa, the kid, and all the other actors did nothing for me. The scenes between them were painful. Not just for the acting/writing, but the production. Why during a scene that's supposed to be awkwardly silent would they be playing an upbeat song? The kid even asked if they could turn on the radio and was told no, yet there was a soundtrack. This negated the silence that was supposedly the point of the scene!

There were many moments when I turned to my roommate to say something like "I think I understand why I hate this movie..." My issue can basically be boiled down to the fact that they were making a movie to pull prankson unsuspecting people, but tried to give it an actual plot. It so obvious that everything Irving (the Grandpa) did was to purposefully punk people, but it was obvious that it was the actor behind the makeup driving the decisions not the character. Some of the pranks contradicted earlier pranks as plot points or character choices. I would probably have hated the movie less if the plot was mostly removed and it was all pranks. So many pranks were clearly leading to a confrontation, but seldom was that shown (the producers likely stepped in before the cops were called/a fight broke out), but no effort was made to explain the lack of them. Just one line saying "I'm glad we were able to get out of that by (insert ANY reason here)" would have made it work so much better for me. Did the fastfood worker go out to meet him? What was the outcome of the shoplifting and penguin arguments? It just cuts away before the interesting thing would happen.

I did have a favorite moment though. Near the end, when Billy (the kid) enters a children's beauty pageant. The talent section is AMAZING! That boy actually made a very pretty little girl, and quite a dancer. It was one of the few moments when both the prank and the reactions were hysterical. It almost made the whole thing worthwhile.

And I should say, grudgingly, that the makeup was pretty good on Johnny Knoxville. Especially in its ability to withstand scrutiny of being up close and personal with real people. Plus, all the crazy shit he does while wearing it and it doesn't come undone. Maybe that's why some of the scenes were cut short.

This movie made me appreciate how the movies I usually watch (read: good movies) are made.

"da fuh?": ummmmmm.....everything?

Surprise appearance: Apparently Catherine Keener played the dead wife - why?!

Next up: I have Tron: Legacy at home, but need to watch Tron first