Old Dogs [PG]

Two best friends and business partners, one very unlucky-in-love divorcee and the other a fun-loving bachelor, have their lives turned upside down when they are asked to babysit a pair of 7-year-old fraternal twins. Simultaneously, the two not-so-child-savvy friends are on the verge of closing the biggest business deal of their careers and, now with kids in their laps, the next fortnight is going to be no walk in the park. 

I first saw this movie in the cinemas with my parents. It was the Christmas holidays, it was dismal weather, and we figured damn it let’s go see a film. This was a great example of how actors have the power to make a movie work. It was great to watch a couple of old pros at work. 

Business partners and best friends Charlie and Dan are on the verge of making the biggest business deal of their careers, but their work lives are interrupted when Dan learns that he is the father of a pair of 7-year-old fraternal twins. Their mother is going to jail for a fortnight and, in an unfortunate turn of events, the babysitter has wound up in hospital. Dan is then asked to take care of the kids for two weeks and, after roping in Charlie to help out, a series of debacles take place as Dan tries to connect with his kids. With the business deal in jeopardy and now a pair of twins in their laps, Dan and Charlie are in for the longest fortnight of their lives. 

This was actually quite a silly film, filled with debacles that were a little too far-fetched, but the actors provided the floating life doughnut. 

Robin Williams stars as Dan and he was great. Whether he’s suffering from sudden loss of depth perception, having tea with his daughter in a crown and tights, getting attacked by spray tan, or flying in as a superhero to wish his kids happy birthday, Robin delivered an energetic and very funny performance., as only he can do. 

John Travolta is the fun-loving bachelor Charlie and he was brilliant. Whether he’s suffering from facial paralysis, having his modern apartment child-proofed, being physically destroyed whilst playing ultimate Frisbee, or continuously being mistaken for a grandpa, John plays off Robin and delivers a hysterical and sometimes heart-warming performance. 

The one thing I didn’t really like about this movie was the fact that the guys are constantly being mistaken for grandpas. I mean, yes I know that that’s in the script and everything, but you don’t need to keep drawing attention to the age. That was what angered me about the fourth Indiana Jones. The did the same thing, they kept drawing attention to the age of Harrison Ford. I don’t know about the actors, but I find that a little degrading. 

Aside from that, Old Dogs was a very funny movie filled with a whole heap of familiar faces including Seth Green, Kelly Preston, Matt Dillon, Justin Long, and Bernie Mac. 

Although some of the debacles that occur in the movie can get a little far-fetched, Old Dogs on the whole, was a heart-warming and fun movie, perfect for the family.