The 2024 action/comedy/thriller Don’t Mess With Grandma, AKA: Sunset Superman is just plain silly. There are some giggles to be had, but the script and characters are downright moronic. Michael Jai White is good as the man doomed to deal with community full of old folks. He is all the around handyman/delivery man. However, writer/director Jason Krawczyk gives us a world that bears no semblance to reality, or comedy.
The Story
A man must protect his grandma’s house from a group of simpletons who want to steal her antiques. *Yes, the story is that simple.* Don’t Mess With Grandma offers a lot of cursing. There is low key violence, played deliberately for laughs and horrible pacing.
the cast
Michael Jai White is JT, aka Jasper.
Jackie Richardson is Granna.
Billy Zane is Stan.
Simplistic and annoying
Perhaps the only clever bit of screenwriting is having three would-be burglars wear pig masks. Three little pigs! Get it? The humour never rises above this level of grade school intellect.
Somewhat amazingly Don’t Mess With Grandma is written/directed by the same guy who brought us He Never Died. The 2015 comedy horror is pretty doggone good. This effort is full of incredibly shallow and simple town folk who want to rob Grandma.
there are moments
Michael Jai White does amuse in places. His awkwardness around animals of any kind is convincing. Jackie Richardson manages to make Granna annoying and not the least endearing. One can only wonder what JT has done to deserve such a fate.
Sadly, every single time Don’t Mess With Grandma tickles the funny bone, it goes on to bore and annoy.
Most of the dialogue feels improvised; poorly. White manages to make his awkwardness feel natural. The “Through the Woods” moment is very funny and the line, “It’s tick season!” flows and got a laugh from me.
Sunset Superman Not
Neither title completely captures the inane story on offer here. A grandmother who reads pornography, throws away food brought in by her grandson. She treats JT like a child.
The bear that the burglars are after looks as fake as the wolf head with the plastic teeth.
Best Exchange
After JT calls the burglars a “gaggle of ass buckets” the following exchange actually made me laugh:
One of the characters replies: “F**k you Solomon Grundy!”
JT: “F**k you Alfred E Neuman!”
Town person: “Alfred E Neuman? Who is Alfred E Neuman?”
JT: Apparently your father.”
*For the younger members of the audience, Alfred E Neuman is the Mad magazine guy.*
This exchange is the funniest moment in the entire film.
The Verdict
Don’t Mess With Grandma/Sunset Superman earns a measly 2 stars out of 5. It is a messy and annoying comedy. Krawcyzk should rethink this move towards comedic shenanigans and move back to horror. Sorry mate but you really screwed the pooch with this one.
The film can be streamed on Prime and Tubi.
But seriously, unless you are a devout Michael Jai White fan? Don’t bother.
The Trailer
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