Grandad Rudd: Stubborn as a mule, twice as funny

Is it worth your time?

Look, if you have any patience for 1930s Australian humor, you’ll probably find Grandad Rudd to be a weirdly comforting watch. It’s definitely not for the modern crowd that needs a joke every three seconds or a CGI explosion to stay awake. If you’re allergic to stage-play acting or rural tropes, stay far, far away. 👵

Bert Bailey is the whole show here, isn't he? He carries that walking stick like it’s a weapon of mass distraction. There’s something about the way he glares at a city suit that feels more honest than anything in The Road Demon. It’s grumpy, it’s loud, and it absolutely refuses to apologize for being a bit dusty.

The plot is… well, it’s thin. Let’s be real. It’s just a bunch of scenes of the Rudd family causing minor havoc in places they don't belong. It’s got that same loose, wandering energy you find in The Old Swimmin' Hole, where the story feels like it might just wander off into the woods if the camera operator stopped paying attention.

There is this one bit where someone tries to act all fancy with tea and biscuits, and the reaction shot lingers for a good five seconds too long. It’s awkward! But it’s the kind of awkward that makes you feel like you’re actually sitting in the room. I kind of loved it.

Some random notes from my notepad:

• The sound quality dips in and out like a bad radio signal. 📻
• I swear the set for the dining room was held together by nothing but hopes and scotch tape.
• Is it just me, or does everyone in this film have a very loud, very specific way of clearing their throat?
• Compared to the weird, artsy vibes of L'Age d'Or, this is about as down-to-earth as a pile of dirt.

The movie gets noticeably better when it stops trying to tell a cohesive story and just lets the characters squabble. The scene where they get lost in the city? It’s a mess. It’s a total, unmitigated mess of extras bumping into each other, and yet, it has more heart than ten modern blockbusters combined.

You can tell the budget was basically a sandwich and a handshake. Sometimes the backdrops look like they were painted by a toddler with a grudge. It doesn't matter, though. You aren't here for the production design.

If you liked the vibe of Az okos mama, you’ll get the rhythm here. It’s not profound, and it certainly isn't going to change your life. It’s just a funny old man being a nuisance for 90 minutes. Sometimes, that’s exactly what the doctor ordered.