Old Dogs

Womanizing Charlie (John Travolta) and twice-divorced Dan (Robin Williams) are best friends, having worked in sports marketing together for 30 years. On the eve of signing a huge contract with a Japanese firm, Dan discovers that an impulsive, one-night fling in Miami with Vicki (Kelly Preston, Travolta's real-life wife) produced now-seven-year-old fraternal twins. An ardent environmental activist, Vicki is facing jail time on a civil disobedience charge, so Zach (Conner Rayburn) and Emily (Ella Bleu Travolta) are temporarily dumped onto Dan's doorstep. Now, he and Charlie must assume parental duties, with their inept coping skills forming the tired basis for the film's infantile slapstick comedy. The flimsy script by David Diamond and David Weissman is formulaic (including incontinence, feces, and groin-injury bits), while Walt Becker's direction is best described as frantic. The cast also includes Seth Green as Charlie and Dan's ambitious assistant, Lori Loughlin as a Japanese translator, Rita Wilson as Vicki's best friend, Matt Dillon as the dementedly over-zealous Pioneer troop leader, and the late Bernie Mac in his final screen role (with cameos by Ann-Margret, Amy Sedaris, and Luis Guzmán). Sadly, Old Dogs is a toxic turkey, a buddy/family film gone wrong. Not recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary (by director Walt Becker, producer Andrew Panay, and writers David Diamond and David Weissman), deleted scenes (3 min.), bloopers (3 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are a “Young Dogs Learn Old Tricks” featurette with young cast members Conner Rayburn and Ella Bleu Travolta (3 min.), the music video “You've Been a Friend to Me” by Bryan Adams, the music video “Every Little Step” by costars John Travolta and Ella Bleu Travolta, and bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a comic misfire.] (S. Granger)