OLD DOGS (REVIEW)
Two
best friends in their 50's, also ultra successful New York business partners in
the lucrative sports marketing, lives are thrown into turmoil when under unusual
circumstances, 7 year old twins come into their care.
It would
be safe to say that the two lead actors are veterans now. John Travolta as Charlie
and Robin Williams as Dan, milk their bumbling antics and slapstick routines all
the way through to milk every laugh they can muster. They are reminiscent of the
odd couple, only more ambiguous. The children are the fraternal twins of Dan -
a result from a wild night in Florida from you guessed it, 7 years earlier. Their
Mother Vicki, who Dan has never forgotten, is being sent to prison (don't ask)
for a fortnight and has no choice than to trust these two bachelors with her offspring.
Exhausted as the premise already is, the hapless baby boomers
are vulnerable with the kids. Zero experience on appropriate behaviour, such as
letting them watch the horror classic, 'Friday the 13th: Part 3' becomes a normality.
A rather important business deal with a major Japanese corporation is put in jeopardy
for the duo. However, this scenario finds ways in the water thin plot to bring
up unlikely fatherhood connections in caring and sharing.
'Old
Dogs' does have its moments - the most amusing being when the children accidently
mix up the many daily pills the boys keep in the bathroom for their increasing
ailments. Taking the wrong medications for these men creates absolute havoc -
their nervous systems swing out of control which includes horrible, but hilarious
side effects. These include a massive problem with face twitching and loss of
depth perception. Dan is expected to play golf with prominent Japanese businessmen
at the same time, while Charlie attends a bereavement while his face is locked
in a quivering, permanent smile. Traditional values and true meaning of the story
comes to light when the old boys realise that the kids have formed a bond and
are exactly what they needed in their illustriously footloose lives.
This
is a family friendly movie designed as crowd pleasing for all ages. The logic
of proceedings is disregarded for the attempt to purely play for laughs - some
work, some don't. However, the feel-good themes are alive and well throughout.
If the sight of golf balls being whacked into unsuspecting groins makes you smile,
this is the film for you.
The outrageous finale in a zoo, complete
with attacking penguins and a lovable Gorilla and co-star Seth Green ('Rat Race')
is befitting to the unlikely logic. A superhero dad scene which enlightens the
children at a birthday party is lifted straight from another film, 'Jingle all
the Way, one of the many familiar scenes reworked as a standard for holiday movies.
Former starlet from the 1980's, Lori Loughlin ('Full House', 'Secret Admirer')
makes an impression in a small role while Matt Dillon, Justin Long and the late
comedian, Bernie Mac chip in to the shenanigans.
For the uncritical
Christmas cinema going crowd looking for a dose of good natured humour, this is
it.
Shane A. Bassett
