John Travolta and Robin Williams star in “Old Dogs.” Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studio.

OLD DOGS (Rated PG)

Aside from some of the rude humor associated with scatological references, the predictable “Old Dogs” comedy, released by the Walt Disney Studio just in time for the holiday season, is exactly the harmless family film it is intended to be.

Moreover, it is slightly redeemed by the fact that, as compared to the work of Eddie Murphy in stinkers like “Daddy Day Care” and “Imagine That,” it is almost mathematically impossible to sink too low when even a tired formula gets somewhat energized and uplifted as the result of casting notables like John Travolta and Robin Williams.

Then again, the problem for “Old Dogs,” living up to its title, is that it is, well, starring a pair of old veterans who just haven’t had hit comedies in recent years, unless you’re counting “Wild Hogs” for Travolta.

By the way, the director for that particular Travolta film, Walt Becker, is behind the camera for this one as well.

Just so you know that it is foolish and ill-advised to take information gleaned from the studio publicity mill with any seriousness, please be aware that the biographical entry in the press notes refers to Travolta’s dreadful “Battlefield Earth” as “the successful sci-fi movie.” Kids, be aware that when you smoke peyote on the job, this is the sort of calamitous thinking that awaits you.

Innocuous as it may be, “Old Dogs” is working off a blueprint so vintage that the film’s premise was fully formed long before TV shows were broadcast in color.

Williams and Travolta, respectively, play longtime friends in their 50s and business partners Dan and Charlie. Together, they run a sports marketing firm in New York, though it is never really clear what’s the big business deal they are pitching to a Japanese conglomerate. Nevertheless, Travolta’s Charlie is the playboy bachelor, while Williams’ Dan is a twice-divorced, lovelorn sad sack.

Just as the two partners are about to launch a major overseas deal, Dan’s tranquility is upended by the sudden news from his ex-wife Vicki (Kelly Preston) that he has two kids he never knew existed. But now years later, Emily (Ella Bleu Travolta) and Zach (Conner Rayburn) are 7-year-old fraternal twins.

A few crazy things happen, and presto, Dan is reluctantly pressed into service as a babysitter for two weeks, because among other things Vicki has to serve time in a Vermont jail for an act of civil disobedience at the same time that her best friend (Rita Wilson) is sidelined due to an unfortunate mishap.

Now, unless you have not been to the movies in the last sixty or so years, the story of “Old Dogs” takes shape in the most conventional and expected manner. When Dan cannot return to his adults-only condo, he and the two kids have to move into Charlie’s kid-unfriendly bachelor pad. But first, a team of inept home remodelers descend on the swank apartment for some child-proofing safety measures. Needless to say, Charlie is hardly thrilled by this turn of events, which of course will only get worse.

The formulaic setup involves a whole bunch of slapstick incidents, some of which are indeed funny but at other times are just plain silly. Charlie and Dan are often mistaken as the grandfathers for the children.

They take a camping adventure at which camp leader Matt Dillon becomes an overbearing martinet, while Justin Long plays a psycho dad who accuses Charlie of stealing his girlfriend. After taking the wrong pills, Dan causes havoc on the golf course by hitting golf balls into the groins of the Japanese executives they are trying to impress. On an outing to the zoo, Dan and Charlie’s assistant (Seth Green) gets abducted by an amorous ape.

As “Old Dogs” drifts from one slapstick set-piece to another, the plot elements back up like rush hour traffic in the Holland Tunnel. One moment, the late Bernie Mac appears in a clown outfit as Jimmy Lunchbox so that he can coach Dan into becoming a human puppet. The next, Dan has strapped on a jet-pack, James Bond-style, so that he can fly like a superhero to impress his kids at a birthday party.

Despite the formulaic exercise, “Old Dogs” may not have learned new tricks, but it comes up with humor, some quite good and at other times cringe-inducing.

DVD RELEASE UPDATE

As a rule, this column features new DVD releases of films or TV shows. With the Christmas season fast- approaching, let’s take a look at a possible gift item for the videogame-playing crowd, hopefully appreciative adolescents.

Warner Home Video is releasing “Harry Potter: Wizarding World,” the second DVD game from the popular film and novel franchise.

Based on the second three Harry Potter films, including the recent “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” the DVD game enables fans to extend the movie experience with activities that include Death Eaters at the Quidditch World Cup, learning defensive magic in Dumbledore’s Army, potion-mixing in Advanced Potions class and much more.

All you need to play the game is a DVD player, remote control and then play alone or with up to three other people – each of whom can choose their own skill level.

Whether this turns out better than “Guitar Hero,” you’ll just have to let me know.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed