Old dogs
Cast: John Travolta, Robin Williams
Direction: Walt Becker
Rating: * & 1/2
There are few things more exasperating than the likes of John Travolta and Robin Williams sink to such depths in a laughter-free comedy.
They portray long-time business partners about to clinch a multi-million dollar deal with a Japanese sports firm. But wait. By one of those predictable script contrivances, the duo — one a twice-divorced dad (Williams), the other a lifelong bachelor (Travolta) — are required to mind the fraternal twins of the former for a couple of weeks.
Believe it or baulk, the mother (Travolta’s real-life wife, Kelly Preston) of the kids must go to jail for a political misdemeanour.
At once repetitive and schmaltzy, the film barely manages to raise a smile. The viewer is treated to plenty of crude slapstick and scatological jokes. Old-timer Ann-Margret fetches up in an unflattering cameo as grief counselor. To be fair, a scene involving a possessive gorilla is fun. But the rest of Old Dogs isn’t.