With the holiday season fast approaching, parents are anxiously trying to find a film that will appeal to the entire family. At first glance, Old Dogs would look to fit the bill, especially considering its star appeal and canine involvement. But upon further investigation, the film that could have been proves to be nothing more than an immature product that rarely causes a laugh or a smile. And while the very young will likely perk up at the child-like antics of our two leading adults, the film fails on so many levels that I cannot begin to recommend it for anyone; regardless of their age.
In terms of story, Old Dogs follows a seven year divorcee and a fun-loving bachelor as they live the high life in the world of sports marketing. A potential deal would skyrocket their success until they agree to care for two seven-year-old twins. Now, in an effort to impress a woman, the not-so-kid-savvy guys are thrown into the world of parenthood head first. But what waits on the other side is nothing short of life changing.
And while I use the term 'life changing' freely when describing the events within the film, I hope that no one expects much, as an outsider, from the film. Robin William and John Travolta, far past their acting prime, do what they can given an unfortunate script; yet I continue to wonder what drew them to the project in the first place. Neither actor was necessarily funny, (Travolta was more annoying and awkward than anything), and their progression as 'parents' was miniscule in the big scheme of things.
Supporting work by Kelly Preston and Seth Green was unfortunate, especially given their short running time and typecast personalities. A cameo session with Matt Dillon and Justin Long didn't alter my opinion much, and the camping trip segment wasn't anything to write home about.
The jokes were randomly placed within the hour and a half feature, rarely building enough momentum or steam to really give the sucker punch that I longed for. A misspelled tattoo and a spray tan malfunction set the stage well for what looked to be the perfect innocent comedy. Sadly, everything that followed that initial ten minute introduction was layered with cheese and repetitive thinking. I mean, lets be honest, how many times can the 'grandfather' joke be played before it loses its luster? For Old Dogs, that number is plain and simple - one.
The most rewarding moment of the film was seeing the late Bernie Mac take to the screen. Though his presence only ages the film, (something that is nearly always at risk when you show the billboards that accompany New York), his unexpected appearance brought a little life to the feature. Unfortunately, his minutes were numbered and a bit random to say the least; and while his involvement in the final outline of the story is zero, I am glad they chose to leave his scene.
Regretfully, that is just about the only good thing that results from this otherwise ridiculous film. Immediately after watching the film I wanted to like it - so much so that I started to give it the benefit of the doubt. However, as time traveled by and my mind continuously went to the story and its many components, I couldn't hold out anymore. With so many other options available, find something, anything, other than Old Dogs. Both you and your family will be glad that you did.
