Old Dogs

This film is about a businessman suddenly having to take care two kids while in the middle of closing the biggest business deal in their company's history.

"Old Dogs" is such a disappointment. The script is terrible and is simply not funny. John Travolta and Robin Williams are both miscast, and most of the time actors over-dramatise that they look so silly and annoying. This film is about the kids and yet they are always delegated to the background. We don't get to know so much about the kids at all. There could have been some touching moments, but there weren't any. The film repeatedly makes fun of older people, but the jokes are more tasteless than funny. The jokes repeat themselves over and over, but as they are not funny the first time, they are not funny the second time either. "Old Dogs" falls totally flat in both the comedy and drama departments. It's a big disappointment.

Dan: If I'm gonna be an old dad, you're gonna be Uncle Charlie. We can do this. Charlie: We?

I'm "gonna" be Uncle Johnny and measure Old Dogs against other non-animation family films and say it is not Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, but it is fun without being condescending. In fact, I will measure it against what it didn't do.

This slapstick comedy is about middle-aged Dan (Robin Williams) finding out he has 2 children, now twin 7 year olds, and friend/marketing partner Charlie (John Travolta) joining him for two weeks taking care of the kids. What the film doesn't do is let Robin Williams get too sentimental as he has done in the past—think Patch Adams; it doesn't let the kids take over the film and insult the adults; it doesn't let the obvious bonding motif get out of hand with absurd sharing and caring.

Of course, the humorous parts are inevitably the slapstick of these two veteran actors from the old pie in the face to the misguided golf balls into the groin. Throw in some standard Asian stereotyping as well.

Oddly enough, most of this old fashioned laugh generation works because the two actors know how far in enough.

The family can go to this film for the laughs, not sophisticated, and the joy-of-family message, not new to kids' films. Where the Wild Things Are this is not, not in visual ingenuity and disturbing ideas about being imperfect humans.

Charlie (reading one of Dan's many prescription bottles): "Watch out for sudden loss of depth perception?" Really, no depth to worry about in Old Dogs; it's just old tricks.

When Travolta's son Jett died in January, He had'nt had a film out for a long time. Old Dogs comes out, and the critics feel they needed to pan it because they feel threatened by a good film. Two best friends—one unlucky-in-love divorcé (Robin Williams) and the other a fun-loving bachelor (John Travolta)—have their lives turned upside down when they're unexpectedly charged with the care of six-year-old twins while on the verge of the biggest business deal of their lives. The not-so-kidsavvy bachelors stumble in their efforts to take care of the twins (newcomers Ella Bleu Travolta and Conner Rayburn), leading to one debacle after another, and perhaps to a new-found understanding of what's really important in life. Old Dogs 7/10

The film is a comedy, family filled fun with Robin Williams at his comical genius. There are a lot of negative reviews for this film but let me put a positive spin on it. The plot is pretty simple; two best friends who are in business together and continuously help one another out. One gets divorced and they head to Miami for fun like the old days. Enter Kelly Preston who plays a minimal but significant part. A fling occurs AND then we fast forward 7 years later when Vicky pops back up in Williams life with two children. Here is where the comedy ensues and Travolta and Williams are at their best. There are a lot of laughs within the film and with co-stars such as Seth Green, Bernie Mac, Matt Dillon, Justin Long, Amy Sedaris the film is enlightend with fun.

Walt Becker's critically panned 'Old Dogs' is one of those films, that entertain till you are in the auditorium. It's aim is simple: Entertainment, the audience has to enjoy it, calling it as a 'Fun' fare. I liked 'Old Dogs', I laughed & enjoyed it.

Films like these is never meant for critics. Critics are losers, 'Old Dogs' is an out-and-out audience film, and the box office returns prove that. These films are not meant to be remembered, such films comes, earn money, tackle your funny bone, that's it! 'Old Dogs' is a winner... mainly because it's intentions are clear, and it succeeds in it's way!

Becker's direction is not as good as compared to his classic 'Wild Hogs', yet it's passable. Coming to acting, John Travolta & Robin Williams steal the show with terrific performances. Plus, it's a pleasure to watch two legends come together. Seth Green is superb, especially in the climax. Kelly Preston is good. Ella Travolta & Conner Rayburn are lovable. Lori Loughlin does her bit well. Bernie Mac, in a minor posthumous role, is as good as ever. Justin Long is fantastic in a brief role. Matt Dillon is wasted.

On the whole 'Old Dogs' is entertainment at it's best!