Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- broad
- sentimental
- chaotic
- family movie night
- lazy weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly found the cast game but the screenplay predictable, witless, and overly dependent on broad physical comedy and sentimental uplift.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Charlie and Dan have worked together and been best friends for thirty years before Dan's unexpected fatherhood disrupts their routine.
Dan volunteers to care for seven-year-old twins despite being uptight and unfamiliar with parenting.
The film's critical reception specifically identifies physical comedy and toilet humor as central stylistic elements.
Dan and Charlie have only two weeks to secure a major Japanese business account while caring for the twins.
Films like Old Dogs, and why
Wild Hogs
Shared buddy-comedy structure, broad physical gags, and middle-aged friends forced into unexpected family responsibilities.
Mr. Mom
Shared family-comedy tone, fish-out-of-water parenting, and reliance on physical humor from an established comic cast.
The Game Plan
Shared workplace pressure, mismatched adult partners, and sentimental comedy built around reluctant caretaking.
Movie Details
- Director
- Walt Becker
- Release Date
- 2009-11-24
- Runtime
- 88 min
- Rating
- 5.6 / 10 (808)
Cast
- John Travolta
- Robin Williams
- Kelly Preston
- Conner Rayburn
- Ella Bleu Travolta
- Lori Loughlin
- Seth Green
- Bernie Mac
- Matt Dillon
- Dax Shepard
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Old Dogs about?
- Two veteran business partners scramble to balance a make-or-break Manhattan deal with the chaotic demands of sudden parenthood.
- What is Old Dogs like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Old Dogs as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Old Dogs violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Old Dogs.
- What did critics think of Old Dogs?
- Critics broadly found the cast game but the screenplay predictable, witless, and overly dependent on broad physical comedy and sentimental uplift.
- Which films are like Old Dogs?
- Films with a similar feel include Wild Hogs, Mr. Mom, and The Game Plan.
- How long is Old Dogs?
- Old Dogs runs 88 minutes.
- Where can I watch Old Dogs?
- In United States, Old Dogs streams on Disney Plus.
