Rob Riggle Interview: The War With Grandpa

Things can go awry quite easily when family is forced together, as new film The War With Grandpa can attest to when it arrives in theaters on October 9. When the newly widowed Ed (Robert De Niro) moves into his daughter’s home, he commandeers his grandson’s son and accidentally sets off metaphorical minefield in the once-peaceful home.

But what of his son-in-law Arthur, played by Rob Riggle, who just wants to get through a day at home without yet another ordeal? The comedian chatted with Screen Rant about what it’s like to play the straight man in a film full of chaos, and how he felt sharing the screen with all manner of legends.

Talk to me a little bit about your character.

Rob Riggle: I play the dad. I’m just doing my dad thing, trying to keep the peace in a family that’s obviously gone to war – or at least a grandson and a grandfather have gone to war. Yeah, that’s it. I’m doing what every dad does, just trying to keep the peace so he can have a moment’s peace to himself for crying out loud.

There you go. Just being a good dad and keeping the peace now. You’re known for your comedic chops, but what was it like sharing the screen with legends like Robert De Niro and Cheech Marin and Christopher Walken?

Rob Riggle: It’s exactly what you think it would be. It’s fantastic. These guys – and gals too – I mean, Uma Thurman and Jane Seymour. Legends; Hollywood heavyweights. It’s so fun to be a fan of theirs for so long, and then to actually to be in a scene and watch them work, and act with them. These are dreams come true, so I savored every moment. Every scene, every rehearsal, everything. Just loved it.

While this is a fun family comedy, it actually has a lot to say about multi-generational homes that have been increasing recently. Can you talk to me about that dynamic a little bit?

Rob Riggle: Sure. I mean, it’s a reality that we’re facing – especially this year. It’s prevalent, I think, anytime. But this year feels more impactful because of the quarantines and the lockdowns. People are experiencing our economies being shut down as well, so there’s been a lot of consolidation. And that means you’ve got grandparents, parents, and grandchildren and children living under one roof. And when you’re on top of each other like that, obviously, it’s a natural recipe for friction.

I think you’re seeing it a lot in real life. Now that we brought it to the screen, I think families can identify with it and enjoy it together, and hopefully be able to smile about it. That’s the whole point of comedy; to recognize real life, but find a way to laugh at it.

The lovely Uma Thurman plays your wife in the film. Can you talk to me about the dilemma that the couple faces, with both their children and an aging parent in conflict?

Rob Riggle: Yeah, there’s a lot – everybody’s got a lot of interest. Everybody’s got an interest here. I think that’s why Arthur, my character, is just trying to negotiate everybody’s interest. His son is mad because he’s out of his room. The father-in-law – who he probably already bumps heads with anyway, because most sons-in-law and fathers-in-law bump heads on everything – doesn’t want to be there, but he’s got to be there. So, he comes with friction and baggage. The son’s angry; the daughter, Uma, my wife, she’s frustrated.

This is real life scenario stuff. This is this how it goes down. This is exactly how it goes down. And then, of course, Arthur’s got his own desires and dreams and ambitions that he’s trying to weave into all this madness. Plus, you’ve got the little ones who are myopic on Christmas, and you’re trying to keep them happy. This is about as real life as it gets for a dad. This is dad business all day long. and mom business, I guess – especially the mom and the dad, being the matriarch and patriarch of this family unit. They’ve got to figure it out together. So, yeah, it’s about as real as it gets.