OLD DOGS
(PG)
MOVIE: *1/2 (out of 5)
BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: ***/2 (out of 5)
BY KEVIN CARR
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
The director of “Wild Hogs” targets another animal with his new film about two old time friends who are struggling with getting old and finding fulfillment in life. Robin Williams and John Travolta play sports marketers who discover that one of them has kids he didn’t even know about. When the mother heads off to jail for a short stint, the business partners become domestic partners and learn to deal with having a family.
WHAT I LIKED
I will admit that I laughed at certain parts of this film. Not many, but I laughed at some of them. I also appreciated the impressive number of cameos that were scored for this film. Not sure how that happened, but there you go.
Also, this is notable because it was Bernie Mac’s last film. Poor Bernie. He will be missed.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
“Old Dogs” was a painful ride, and it was rotten from the script stage. It used forced jokes and extremely unfunny premises. Neither Robin Williams nor John Travolta brought their A-game to this set, relying on obnoxious mugging at the camera and awkward improv to try to bring out the laughs.
So many moments of the film tried to force jokes where they don’t belong, or they rushed the jokes beyond any sort of believability. It was a thin premise at best, and a lot of the territory has been done more effectively in other films like “The Game Plan” and any other of a dozen parental comedies.
In the end, there was no passion behind it. There was no natural flow to the scenes. It seemed like everyone involved was just collecting a paycheck. Director Walt Becker managed to give a rather amusing film with “Wild Hogs,” but it seems that his success was more of a one-hit wonder rather than a sustainable career.
BLU-RAY FEATURES
Like many of the Disney Blu-rays, “Old Dogs” comes in a three-disc combo pack, including the Blu-ray, the DVD and a digital copy of the film. Bonus material includes deleted scenes, bloopers, an audio commentary by the director and producers and a music video featuring John Travolta and his daughter Ella Bleu Travolta.
Additional material exclusive to the Blu-ray includes the featurette “Young Dogs Learn Old Tricks” as well as a music video by Bryan Adams.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Kids and people who don’t know better.