Old Dogs (2009)

(12%) Since Williams' tragic passing this third rate talent leech is if anything even sadder to watch than ever as it shows Hollywood clearly not knowing at all what to do with such a talented man. The result of which is this shinning example of crass throwaway trash. Travolta is here because he had a gap in his dairy, and there's a big red plane he wants to rent over the summer, so he signed on the dotted line. Why he looks like a creepy wax of himself I'm not too sure. The jokes aren't funny and amount to people getting hit in the gentleman's region with golf balls, or kids messing around with medication that in reality would possibly kill someone. But thankfully this is set in no kind of reality I'm aware of. With birthday parties in zoos and rocket men (yes rocket men) who happily hand over an expensive piece of equipment for a few dollars; the last half hour really is oddly similar to "Jingle all the way", only not as cheesy. Despite the hopeful cast, give this a big miss.

I haven't seen this movie in a while so quite frankly I'm actually amazed that I remembered anything about it. Old Dogs seemed like it could have some potential as a good comedy but it really just fell flat. The story is that a woman is sent to prison so Charlie Reed (John Travolta) and Dan Rayburn (Robin Williams) have look after her kids. And in it the kids create some wacky trouble. That seriously is the plot of the movie. All the jokes either fell down flat or were just completely stupid. And when you have a comedy like that it's just going to drag on. I like Travolta and Williams but this time it seems both just made a mediocre performance in an even more mediocre film.

Disney has put out some good movies, and some stinkers. This movie fits firmly in the latter category. John Travolta and Robin Williams phone in their performances in this uneven mix of slapstick and schmaltz. John Travolta and Robin Williams play business partners who run a sports marketing firm, but when Robin Williams' character finds out he has children, he and Travolta have to play dad for a couple of weeks while the mother serves a little time in jail. Nothing about the plot was fresh or interesting although, to Disney's credit, they really don't deal with much outside of formula filmmaking anyway. There were a couple of visual gags that were legitimately funny...the first time around. But then they just keep using the same jokes over and over again. Kids might enjoy adults getting hit repeatedly in the groin, but not me. And then to make matters worse, there's some humor insinuating that the main characters are gay, which will go right over children's heads. Ultimately, this film is aimed at families with young children, but the humor is hackneyed at best and I don't see parents enjoying it too much. The message about the importance of family is admirable, but Disney has done much better than this in the past. Ultimately, this won't go down in the annals of Disney history as even a good film, and it certainly is one of the worst films that John Travolta and Robin Williams have ever made. Some old dogs just need to be put to sleep.

'Baffling' is a great way to describe this. It's such a slapdash compilation of random and bizarre plot points strung together with used floss. Travolta and Williams play two (sucky) businessmen who have to babysit Williams children, whom he's just met, for two weeks. During this time they have a very important conference call with "The Japanese" which also involves playing golf. I'm not sure which is more offensive, everyone thinking they're grandparents or everyone thinking they gay. At one point Matt Damon's character almost freaks out at Travolta and Williams because he thinks that they're gay. I... just how is that acceptable in today's society? It's not bad to the point where it's unwatchable, but I really wish Hollywood would put at least a little effort into making movies.PS: Fremont.