Review: Old Dogs

The title is taken from the old adage, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks;” in this case, the “old dogs” are a couple of late-in-life bachelors, one of whom discovers he’s the father of twins.

To raise his buddy’s spirits after a bad breakup, Charlie (John Travolta) takes Dan (Robin Williams) for an alcohol-fuelled vacation. However, during this trip Dan not only forgets about his ex, but falls in love again. Seven years later, Dan’s “soul mate” reappears to inform him he has two children and he’s about to have two full weeks to bond with them. Unsure of how to relate to his children and land the biggest business dal of his career, Dan enlists the help of his friend and business partner, Charlie.

The first thing one notices is the focus on their age; they’re matured through Photoshopped photographs and referred to as the children’s grandfathers rather than father repeatedly. This is the type of story that would never be as equally humorous if the characters were women; a woman’s age is taboo, not funny. Moreover, the age-jokes are often too over the top to actually be funny.

Unfortunately, the film suffers from an error in casting – if a comedy stars Williams, he should be the funny one. While Williams’ serious roles were deservedly acclaimed, his sober attitude does not play as well in a comedic narrative; it’s also difficult to believe he has difficulty connecting with kids. This is not to take away from Travolta’s performance, but the movie is significantly lacking in the laugh department. There are only two scenes that are hysterical, but both are featured in the trailer.

That said, Seth Green never disappoints. He portrays an ambitious associate in Dan and Charlie’s company, and though his role is minimal he always delivers the laughs. Furthermore, Matt Dillon’s and Bernie Mac’s cameos are quite amusing.

The tendency to give more weight to the sentimental elements of the story is also unexpected and somewhat unwelcome. While these moments are genuine, they slow the film’s pace. It’s unfortunate because this movie really had potential.