Old Dogs 2009

A Big Disappointment

Friday, November 27, 2009

The newest comedy from Walt Disney, "Old Dogs" is about exactly as funny and obvious as you'd think, with the easy set up and pay-off of a well-worn, completely neutered sitcom. The filmmakers seem to think the best comedy is the kind that's not even remotely attached to reality, which wouldn't be a problem if they weren't trying to make a film set in the modern world. The result are 'jokes' where the adult apartment complex, which Dan has moved into after his divorce, has child-specific alarms and spotlights to protect its isolated inhabitants. Stuck with the kids and no place to go, the clan soon ends up on Charlie's sofa who, like any good best friend, will do what he must to help Dan bond with his kids. The strength of Dan and Charlie's relationship is one of "Old Dogs" few redeeming virtues, despite the fact that it mainly exists just to keep its two stars on screen together as Charlie could be removed from the film and it would be largely the same.

The rest of "Old Dogs" can be pretty easily cribbed together from other similar recent films like "The Game Plan" and its ilk. There will be destruction of Charlie's bachelor pad, some sort of costumed play time as the adults learn how to get back to the kids level and some promises that will have to be broken and then made up for. The sad part is there's a decent film in there somewhere. The desire to stay young for as long as possible, particularly while simultaneously dealing with growing old, is potent soil for comedy but also requires care in its handling and there's none of that to be found in "Old Dogs."

Sadly, there really isn’t too much that’s fun in this movie. The dads-out-of-water joke is overused so much that it actually gets tiring during the first go around – a delightful little scene where the new family goes camping and the dads manage to offend everyone involved, destroy a monument, and play a game of “ultimate Frisbee” that results in a lot of body related humor and a general feeling of disappointment for the two children – maybe for the the audience too. This scene is then repeated in a different location and repeated and repeated and until the film comes puttering to a predictable ending wherein Dan figures out what exactly he wants out of life.

Old Dogs should be confined to the discount bin at a video store. Stay away from this one if you're looking for anything other than a predictable, pathetic comedy with no redeeming qualities. Old Dogs doesn't just roll over and play dead, it is in fact lifeless.

Taglines

Old Dogs

• Sit. Stay. Play Dad.
• Life is Not Child-Proof

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Trivias

Old Dogs

• Bernie Mac's last film.
• The film Old Dogs was planned to be released on April 10, 2009, but Bernie Mac's death caused Disney to postpone the release date to November 25, 2009.
• Film critic Roger Ebert gave Old Dogs a rating of one star out of a possible four.
• Honeycutt called the film "a dumb male movie", and concluded, "'Old Dogs' gives men a bad name."
• There are no new tricks in 'Old Dogs,' a cheesy chew-toy of a comedy about reluctant fatherhood.
• Writing for Metromix, Matt Pais described Old Dogs as "A great opportunity to gather family members you clearly think are stupid."