‘The War With Grandpa’ showcases Robert De Niro in a light family comedy

If “The War With Grandpa” sounds like the argument that you’re dreading over Thanksgiving dinner, happily, it’s not. Instead, this slightly naughty family comedy gets a mild lift from its casting, starting with Robert De Niro as the aforementioned grandpa, who has the audacity to move into his 12-year-old grandson’s room.

Adapted from Robert Kimmel Smith’s book, and directed by Tim Hill (an animation veteran, including “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run”), the film quickly turns into a domestic war, with sixth-grade Peter (Oakes Fegley of “The Goldfinch”) warning grandpa Ed to relocate, or face the consequences.

Unlike his mom, Ed’s daughter (Uma Thurman, an unlikely if effective choice), the kid appears little concerned that gramps is still missing his late wife and struggling on his own with things like, well, driving.The “war” unfolds with a series of escalating pranks, at least two of which leave Ed without his pants, which about sums up the level of comedic aspirations. Fortunately, he has reinforcements (basically seconds in the duel, to counter Peter’s chums) played by Christopher Walken and Cheech Marin, with Jane Seymour subsequently joining in as a welcome new addition to their ranks.

As for the generation caught between them, Peter’s folks (with Rob Riggle as his dad) are a slight cut above the usual Charlie Brown-parents in these kind of movies, occasionally getting unwittingly drawn into the conflict. Peter is also a middle child, bookended by sisters with concerns of their own.