Movie review: Old Dogs

Movie review: Old Dogs

Director: Walt BeckerCast: John Travolta, Robin Williams, Kelly Preston, Seth Green, Ella Bleu Travolta, Lori Loughlin and Matt Dillon

Rating:**

Sometimes, even the most predictable movies can be unpredictably funny (in bits and places). That’s why even though Disney’s Old Dogs uses one of the oldest storylines in the book, it still pulls a laugh or two out of you. But only just.

After all, there’s nothing new about watching a workaholic bachelor, who suddenly discovers he has children he didn’t know about, grown into his role as daddy dearest.

Robin Williams plays emotionally-stunted, 50 plus Dan, who runs a marketing company with his womanizing (and equally old) best friend Charlie (Travolta). And just when they’re ready to sign a career-making deal, they’re suddenly charged with looking after 7-year-old fraternal twins Dan fathered before the break up of his one-day-old marriage eight years ago. Convoluted, huh?

Predictably, pandemonium ensues as father and kids try to connect with each other. While the storyline lacks imagination, the writers of the film have thankfully stuck to gags that, though tried and test, do make us laugh – especially when Dan and Charlie are continuously mistaken for the kids’ grandparents. There’s also a camp Frisbee match that induces giggles.

While Robin Williams plays the bumbling dad with predictable competence, Travolta disappoints as an over-botoxed, schmarmy guy fighting a mid-life crisis by dating women old enough to be his daughters. What happened to the guy from Grease and Pulp Fiction?