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Old Dogs
Stars: Robin Williams, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Seth Green, Conner Rayburn, Ella Bleu Travolta, Lori Loughlin and Bernie Mac with cameo appearances by Matt Dillon, Ann-Margaret, Rita Wilson and Amy Sedaris
Director: Walt Becker
Scriptwriters: David Diamond and David Weissman
Disney Pictures
Rating: PG for crude humor
Running Length: 90 minutes
 
Suspend belief when you enter the theater and just go with the flow. There isn’t much plot to the story of two old friends who are in the midst of finalizing an enormous business deal when suddenly one discovers he has (a) children and that (b) he is expected to take care of them now. This is what happens to Dan (Robin Williams) and Charlie (John Travolta). What makes this film is that Williams doesn’t go the manic comedic route, but holds back at just the right moments. Travolta extends himself into comedy and can do this when Williams backs up a step. Thus, we have two stars playing off each other and you can believe they have been friends from childhood.
 
The story has Dan and Charlie in sports marketing. They have a new apprentice, Ralph (Seth Green) who has learned Japanese in order to help woo the Asian market. It is at this crucial time that Dan gets a phone call from Amanda (Kelly Preston) a girl he spent a weekend with seven years ago. Amanda is headed for two weeks in prison (political protest) and needs someone to take the fraternal twins, Zach and Emily, (Conner Rayburn and Ella Bleu Travolta). Guess who their father is, that’s right, the guy who said he wasn’t parent material, Dan, himself. Charlie comes to the rescue and the guys decide they can do this. Even though Charlie’s best friend is his aging dog, the kids take to the animal. It doesn’t take an encyclopedia to figure out what comes next. The kids are nice, but accidentally get into trouble. There are Japanese businessmen who are about ready to sign a contract and everyone suffers when Dan and Charlie’s pills (high blood pressure, etc) are accidentally switched. There are depth perception problems and appetite problems (can’t stop eating). In other words, whenever Charlie says “we can handle this,” you know they can’t. Lori Loughlin is the girl who eventually catches Charlie’s eye.
 
This is slapstick but softer and smoother. There are just plain preposterous situations (Seth Green being held by a gorilla) and one that borders on cruel (a hand model gets her fingers broken). The message that comes through, though, is that friends stick together no matter what, and that family---when you find you have one---matters. Williams didn’t know he had children until their mother was forced to find him and tell him. He didn’t think he was parent material, but with the kids, he is “Dad,” period. It helps that money is no object in this movie and that Dan and Charlie live in an expensive world. 
 
The title, Old Dogs, may make you think the characters in this film are in their eighties, but not so. No one is ever too old to learn, whether it is being at a tea party with your daughter or going to camp with your son. This film is the last screen appearance for the late Bernie Mac. The best part of the film is that, though there is crude humor, profanity is not there.
 
Copyright 2009 Marie Asner