By Tiffany
Opened November 25, 2009 | Runtime: 1 hr. 28 min.
PG: some mild rude humor
Oh Mork, Oh Vinnie? What happened? You’ve been reduced to golf balls to the nuts slapstick humor. I don’t even know what to say. I am in mourning for your once (and in John’s case, twice) brilliant careers. Now we’re left with grandparent jokes, mixed up medication side effects, and Rita Wilson playing some kind of cross-eyed hand model. I hang my head in shame. You all should too!
I wanted to like this one. It’s Bernie Mac’s last movie. He has a very small cameo and it was like seeing a ghost for a minute there! Kinda threw me off. This was also the last movie made by John, his wife Kelly Preston, and their daughter Ella Bleu just before the tragic death of Jett.
But, ugh, it’s just really not that funny. There are a lot of laughs to be had. But they’re fart joke type humor. And it’s the same jokes, same slapstick that we’ve seen time after time after time. Nothing new. Nothing original.
Plus, the chemistry between Travolta and Williams just doesn’t coalesce. We know that they’re very bestest friends because we are told and show that over and over and over again (opening credits alone. And seriously, my 5 year old is more adept with Photoshop than whoever they got to do it. It was so bad, it’s probably the funniest part of the whole movie!) But they don’t FEEL like best friends. It doesn’t come across at all. It just doesn’t work.
Ok, some positive. Always have to find something positive. Matt Dillion as the “over enthusiastic” camp director is hilarious. He plays it so straight. Perfect. Justin Long is a gem. OMG – the movie should have starred these two at camp, with John and Robin as side characters. Much better movie!! Seth Green tries SO HARD. And it almost works. But, eh, not quite. Too bad. I think his character could have added a lot. Instead, his funniest bits are all in the trailer. They should have left his worst stuff on the cutting room floor. Maybe they did. Egads!
My overall review: I wouldn’t even waste a spot in your Netflix queue on this one! Catch it for free on the Disney Channel; that is, if you don’t have something better to do. Like root canal.
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Comments
7 Responses to Old Dogs
Oy vey Tiffany- your review at least, was quite funny! I have to admit I wanted to see this but perhaps I will wait for redbox and even then, I’ll have a backup.
Tiffany, thanks for taking one for the team!
I have to say that Matt Dillion as the “over enthusiastic” camp director sounds very funny, but I am sure I can catch his particular scenes on HBO at some point in the future.
Actually, I like all the cast you mentioned. Too bad their efforts didn’t pay off….
I was tempted but will wait to see it on demand, that way I only pay $3.99.
Thanks for the review. I have to say, just from the commercials, this looked painful.
I will probably get this on Netflix just because I like the actors. My husband said the first time he saw the commercial that it looked bad. We absolutely loved Wild Hogs as did my parents so I am disappointed.
Pam, my parents loved Wild Hogs too. They went to see Old Dogs (hmm… I wonder what the next one will be called “Rolling Logs” perhaps?) My mom thought it was “stupid but funny” and my stepdad just thought it was stupid. So, there ya go!
I’m seeing Everybody’s Fine (De Niro and Barrymore) tonite – I am hoping for better (seriously, I don’t see how it could be worse!!)
Tiffany, your review is funny.
Thanks for the warning. I always like Mat Dillion, but I might skip this one. I’ve gotten intolerant of waiting for the good parts in the movies that turn out this way.