Two best friends — one unlucky-in-love divorcee (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-kid-savvy bachelors stumble in their efforts to take care of the twins, leading to one debacle after another, and perhaps to a new-found understanding of what’s really important in life.
You won’t learn any new comic tricks from this mangy old storyline and toothless brand of humour. Canine metaphors aside, Old Dogs is a bland effort that draws groans more often than it does laughs.
Slapstick physical gags occasionally hit the mark, but often fall flat with jokes you’ve seen a hundred times before with better results. Mostly the film veers towards a sanitized version of toilet humour that only seems half-hearted because it can’t really go for the jugular, what with this being aimed at impressionable kids and all.
Despite the weak material, the big name cast members try in vain to make it work. Travolta is nothing if not palpably enthusiastic, while Robin Williams shows glimpses of his undoubted comic talents. Surprisingly though, it’s probably Seth Green who is the highlight.
The biggest problem is that recent animated features have raised the bar for family entertainment, so this style of film comes across as an obsolete relic from a bygone age. Efforts like this one only hasten the demise.
By Andreas Heinemann, Flicks.co.nz
this is such a great movie if you like a bit of comedy you have to see this with the kids
Awesome movie!
Good movie
Very lazy effort.
Well known actors of course, but the story wasn't good at all. Waste of money.
Insipid, predictable, broad comedy mixed with Disney Family Values makes for one exasperating sit.
With a great cast who were obviously keen to work together, it's amazing that someone couldn't come up with something better than this.
It runs a fast 88 minutes, is broad as the waistlines of its stars, and is remarkably family-friendly if you don't mind bathroom humor.
This is the weird thing, Old Dogs is not that bad.
Too bad this shrilly tuned comedy doesn't demand more than clock-punching effort from everyone involved.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 7th Jan 2010.
Release date: January 7th 2010.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
