At the center of this hurricane is , the 86-year-old alter ego of Johnny Knoxville. While Irving had popped up in sketches before, this film was his "Great American Road Trip." The transformation was no joke—lead makeup artist Stephen Prouty spent roughly 2 hours and 45 minutes every day turning Knoxville into a senior citizen.
Jackson Nicoll is essentially a comedy natural. Whether he's hitting on women twice his age or getting "wasted" on soda, he plays the scenes with a straight face that leaves unsuspecting bystanders in total shock.
Unlike previous Jackass films, the targets here are real people caught in unreal situations. From a biker bar full of Bikers Against Child Abuse members to a high-stakes girls' beauty pageant, the reactions are 100% authentic. Review - "Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa" - GaF Blog
The real secret sauce, however, wasn't just the makeup—it was the chemistry between Knoxville and young , who played his grandson, Billy. The premise is simple: Irving has to drive Billy across the country to drop him off with his deadbeat dad after the boy's mother goes to prison.