Old Dogs is another Disney clap trap family film about an older guy (Robin Williams) who is sensible, skittish, phobic, and carefully plans his life. Which, in Hollywood cliche land, means that his best friend (John Travolta) is the exact opposite. So after a night of debauchery a decade before Dan (Williams) learns that he is the proud father of twins AND the mother is going to jail for two weeks for some environmental terrorism. So Dan and Charlie (Travolta) end up taking care of the kids. Hilarity engulfs the screen in a series of old and fart jokes. Run credits.
This is basically a same shit different day situation with Travolta resuming his Dinseyfied role that he had in Wild Hogs (let's not get started on that one) The story is thin, Williams tries to improv, but fails. Travolta just sucks, but he's getting a check so who cares. This is your basic crappy family film that they throw two names in so that you'll go to the theater and rent the DVD. Cash out, people.
But could Old Dogs do some good? I totally believe that Robert Downey, Jr. needs to watch this film with great interest and think about where he wants his career to be in fifteen years. Travolta got his second chance and now look at him. You need to be careful, Robert. You could be starring in a movie like this. Beware. Beware.
Disney once again returns to the well and enlists the creativity of Tim Burton to give us the uber CGI "sequel" to the original Alice in Wonderland story. Alice (Mia Masikowska) is about to get hitched in a pseudo arranged marriage. Of course, Alice ends up following the white rabbit, falling down the hole, and going on an acid trip that would have made Syd Barrett blush.
Now Alice in Wonderland is a beautifully crafted film that challenges Avatar in the creativity department. It's amazing to watch, especially since it's also a member of the 3-D fad fan club. It's magnificent visually. However, the story is lacking a bit. Quite a bit actually. Sure Alice is the main character and is basically in very scene of the film, the child-like innocence of the original story and Disney film are gone, being replaced by a "Hey, it's Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter!". Alice, just as Avatar, becomes more a sunset film. What's a sunset film? It's a movie that you'll sit there watching, marveling in its splendor, mesmerized by how it massages the eye and the brain until the very end. Then you'll walk away until you watch your next sunset. And the same thing happens over again. They all start to blend together after awhile. Of course sunsets can be more appealing then today's cinema fare.
So if you're into some eye candy for about two hours and 3-D doesn't give you a head ache then enjoy Alice in Wonderland. If you're looking for a great story you may want to go to the video store. Or Netflix. Or download. And enjoy something with a little more behind its glimmering facade.
