Film Preview: Dirty Grandpa (2016)

Page Revisions:

(November 1, 2015) Original
(January 17, 2016) New Trailer (#2) / New Posters (#2-#8)

Release Date:

January 22, 2016

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “Right before his wedding, an uptight guy is tricked into driving his grandfather, a perverted former Army general, to Florida for spring break.”

Poster Rating: A / B / D / C / F / C- (2) / C+

SEE ALL POSTERS BELOW
Review: (#1) The reference to The Graduate is not only obvious, but it’s clearly inspired. While the film may bear zero similarity to the Dustin Hoffman-Anne Bancroft classic, it’s a no less clever design.

(#2) While it’s not as fascinating as the first design, the suggestive gas pump nozzle adds a layer to the design that is otherwise visually barren. (#3) The look on the actors faces is what makes the design, but that is simply not enough to make it good. (#4) A little more interesting, with De Niro pressing Zac Efron, but lacks imaginative or memorable details. (#5) Does anyone actually find these designs compelling or think they want to check out a film as a result of them?

(#6-#7) The backgrounds are blurry and, while different, not remarkably so and while these might sell the stars of the film, they do a poor job of selling the film itself. (#8) Apart from finding Efron in a position we aren’t accustomed to, there’s nothing remotely fascinating about this poster design.

Trailer Rating: C / B

SEE ALL TRAILERS BELOW
Review: (#1) While the poster is a clever design, the trailer is anything but. The generic nature of road trip comedy just doesn’t support an inventive approach to narrative design. That said, there is potential for humor, but the trailer doesn’t do an adequate job selling that.

(#2) Far funnier than its predecessor, we’ve finally got a film trailer that sets the film up as an enjoyable and irreverent experience. Seeing De Niro in rare crass form is enough to make anyone want to see how things go even if the film is patently generic.