The War with Grandpa

The War with Grandpa is currently streaming in Australia on Amazon Prime Video and Foxtel Now, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. With 1,069 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Robert De Niro leads a cast with real comic timing. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Amazon Prime Video.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, The War with Grandpa earns its spot. The jokes in The War with Grandpa land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Peter is thrilled that his Grandpa is coming to live with his family. That is, until Grandpa moves into Peter's room, forcing him upstairs into the creepy attic. And though he loves his Grandpa, he wants his room back - so he has no choice but to declare war. Robert De Niro and Uma Thurman lead a cast with the timing to make it work. It hit screens in 2020. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and The War with Grandpa holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

The War with Grandpa is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Robert De Niro sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.