Old Dogs
Performance & Direction: Old Dogs Review
Last updated: January 23, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Old Dogs (2009) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 5.5/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Comedy.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and Old Dogs features a noteworthy lineup led by John Travolta . Supported by the likes of Robin Williams and Kelly Preston , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of Old Dogs (2009) is mixed. With an audience rating of 5.5/10, it stands as a decent one-time watch.
Story & Plot Summary: Old Dogs
Quick Plot Summary: Old Dogs is a Comedy, Family film that brings laughter through sharp writing and comedic timing, providing amusement while touching on deeper societal themes. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The comedic structure relies on both situational humor and character-based comedy. Charlie and Dan have been best friends and business partners for thirty years; their Manhattan public relations firm is on the verge of a huge business deal with a Japanese company. With two weeks to sew up the contract, Dan gets a surprise: a woman he married on a drunken impulse nearly nine years before (annulled the next day) shows up to tell him he's the father of her twins, now seven, and she'll be in jail for 14 days for a political protest. Dan volunteers to keep the tykes, although he's uptight and clueless. With Charlie's help is there any way they can be dad and uncle, meet the kids' expectations, and still land the account? The film finds humor in relatable situations while maintaining narrative momentum. The jokes serve the story, with callbacks and running gags that reward attentive viewers.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The opening establishes the comedic tone and introduces the central conflict through humor and character quirks.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The comedic climax ties together recurring jokes and character arcs, delivering both laughs and emotional satisfaction.
Ending Explained: Old Dogs
Ending Breakdown: Old Dogs attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to comedy resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the comedy themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Old Dogs reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Old Dogs?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Comedy films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
Box Office Collection: Old Dogs
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $35.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $96.8M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Old Dogs Budget
The estimated production budget for Old Dogs is $35.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Old Dogs
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Where to Watch Old Dogs Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
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YouTube🏷️ Buy on
Google Play MoviesYouTubeOld Dogs Parents Guide & Age Rating
2009 AdvisoryWondering about Old Dogs age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Old Dogs is 88 minutes (1h 28m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 5.5/10, and global performance metrics, Old Dogs is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 2009 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Old Dogs worth watching?
Old Dogs is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies. It has a verified rating of 5.5/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Old Dogs parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Old Dogs identifies it as PG. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Old Dogs?
The total duration of Old Dogs is 88 minutes, which is approximately 1h 28m long.
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Critic Reviews for Old Dogs
Bad watch, won't watch again, and can't recommend. I love Robin Williams and Seth Green, but man, I don't know what is wrong with Travolta in this. I'm not a big fan of his to begin with, but he's just a jackass. Not only does he have a jerk character, but he looks like he's phoning it in too. "I'm here, I'm saying the lines." It wouldn't be so bad if he wasn't the lead character. The movie is about THEIR business, and Robin's character's kids, but personality wise Robin has to play this push over character that can't do anything but take the punches, and he doesn't do abuse humor well. He's known for absurd humor, that the situation is ridiculous and out of control, not that he's suffering from it persay. I've also always like Robin William's connection to kids and that, at heart, he's a family guy. This character that lives isolated from his kids, that can't be fun was a poor casting for him. Honestly, looking at the story even, I don't know why anyone decided to make this, unless the right names made it happen, and they just left big blank spaces in the script that said, "something ridiculous and funny" and they just slotted in things like "Seth Green gets adopted by a Guerilla". Don't waste your time with this unless you're just on a Robin Williams marathon for completionist sake.
I wanted this to be good, but it's anything but. There is nothing I enjoyed about 'Old Dogs', every second of its 88 minute run time is a hard slog. Robin Williams and John Travolta are the only reasons that I haven't rated this even lower, I'm not saying those two are all that noteworthy in this but their acting ability raises things up ever so slightly. The premise is incredibly lame and painstakingly predictable, while the comedy is very lazy - I didn't laugh once, there's not even a minutely chucklesome moment. There are some terrible attempted gags in there. A major disappointment, I wanted to like this due to the two leads but I just couldn't. Dreadful film. 2000s live-action Disney is mental. From the greatness of 'Pirates of the Caribbean', 'Holes' and 'The Greatest Game Ever Played' to the diabolical 'The Country Bears', 'Max Keeble's Big Move' and now this. Rather incredible.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
