old dogs Tagged Articles at Cinematical

While attending a midnight showing of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra last week, we got a surprisingly diverse group of trailers attached to a movie that's based on a kid's property, but has no shortage of impaled skulls and throwing stars to the eye sockets (but it's bloodless, Prince Caspian-style, so it's okay!).

The one that got the biggest rise out of the audience was that of Old Dogs, from the director of Wild Hogs (get it?) and starring Robin Williams and John Travolta as swinging bachelors suddenly saddled with kids to care for and forced, one would gather, to learn new tricks (get it?). And lo, the audience did howl, and lo, I did slouch further and further into my seat. A kid is hit in the head by a ball! Williams loses depth perception after the brats mix up his meds! Seth Green is being cuddled by a gorilla that gets angry if he doesn't sing for it! John Travolta gets pecked in the head by aggravated penguins! Sweet Charlie Chaplin's ghost, that there's a knee-slapper!

Shutter Island
Martin Scorsese's latest thriller looks downright spectacular. The film is based on a novel by Dennis Lehane and Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a U.S. Marshall searching for an escaped mental patient on an island off the coast of Massachusetts. DiCaprio's character comes up against a dark conspiracy and he is haunted by the memory of his late wife who is played by Michelle Williams. And yes that's Jackie Earl Haley as one of the inmates (he plays crazy REALLY well). Watch for this one on October 2.

Old Dogs
OK, the bit where Seth Green is singing "I'm All Out of Love" to the gorilla is pretty funny, and the penguin attack got me to laugh but the plot seems ridiculously simplistic. Robin Williams plays a man whose former girlfriend returns after seven years to tell him that he has twin children. With the help of his buddy played by John Travolta, Williams's character must adapt to the idea of instant fatherhood at a relatively advanced age. Wackiness enuses. This is being billed as a family movie so much of the humor is aimed at kids. This one hits theaters on November 25.

A whole bunch of new images have hit the internets today, and while I feel a little weird merging family-friendly entertainment with two freakishly crazy flicks, not only do I save space (does that count as my "green" Mitzvah of the day?), but I'm also saving you time. So here we go ...

Below are some new stills from some of Disney's 2009 films, then head after the jump for more -- as well as a look at Mickey Rourke in the 13 Tzameti remake, and a brand new image from Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds.

Old Dogs (pictured above) - Release Date: November 25, 2009
Two best friends-one unlucky-in-love divorcee (Robin Williams) and the other a fun-loving bachelor (John Travolta)-have their lives turned upside down when they're unexpectedly charged with the care of six-year-old twins while on the verge of the biggest business deal of their lives. The not-so kidsavvy bachelors stumble in their efforts to take care of the twins (newcomers Ella Blue Travolta and Conner Rayburn), leading to one debacle after another, and perhaps to a new-found understanding of what's really important in life.



Surrogates - Release Date: September 25, 2009
FBI agents (Bruce Willis and Radha Mitchell) investigate the mysterious murder of a college student linked to the man who helped create a high-tech surrogate phenomenon that allows people to purchase unflawed robotic versions of themselves-fit, good looking remotely controlled machines that ultimately assume their life roles-enabling people to experience life vicariously from the comfort and safety of their own homes. The murder spawns a quest for answers: in a world of masks, who's real and who can you trust?

The AP is reporting this morning that actor/comedian Bernie Mac has passed away in a Chicago area hospital from complications due to pneumonia. He's also suffered from an inflammatory lung disease known as sarcoidosis, though that had gone into remission back in 2005. Mac, who won a Peabody Award for his very popular sitcom The Bernie Mac Show, was also well known for his stand-up comedy -- and as part of The Original Kings of Comedy -- as well as his various big-screen appearances in films from the Ocean's series to Bad Santa to Mr. 3000 to his upcoming roles in Soul Men opposite Samuel L. Jackson, and Old Dogs opposite Robin Williams and John Travolta.

Dude was a funny, funny man. He will be missed. What's your favorite Bernie Mac performance/joke/moment? Feel free to share your thoughts on the man in the comments section below ...

The Montana madness continues! Now that the writer's strike is resolved, Variety reports that Disney is the latest studio to revamp their schedule and stake out some prime release dates.

Among their 2009 and 2010 releases will be The Hannah Montana Movie, to be released on May 1st, 2009 and pitted against 20th Century Fox's X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Wolverine versus Hannah Montana. I'm laughing just thinking about it. I want someone to make a comic book cover of this right now. (Seriously. I will frame it.) My money is on Wolverine to actually win that battle, but who knows what incredible powers Montana may possess.

All sarcasm aside, I imagine this will actually be a very good move by Disney. Moms and daughters can go watch Hannah Montana, while their fathers and brothers go see Wolverine. The whole family wins!

Since his Academy Award-nominated turn as a racist cop in Crash, the ever-reliable Matt Dillon has starred as Charles Bukowski's alter-ego in the drama Factotum and played a hapless husband in the disappointing You, Me and Dupree. He also appeared recently in supporting roles in Kevin Bacon's drama Loverboy and opposite Lindsay Lohan in the family comedy Herbie: Fully Loaded. That selection of parts has been typical throughout Dillon's career, as he's moved easily between the independent and studio worlds and is equally at home in both comedies and dramas.

Now The Hollywood Reporter says that he's in final negotiations for two more roles, both crime-related. Dillon will play a detective who intercepts the plans of a group of bank robbers in Bone Deep. The article doesn't say whether Dillon is working for the police or on his own, only that the robbers are trying to pull off a $20 million heist. John Luessenhop is set to direct; he previously made the prison drama Lockdown. I'm hoping Bone Deep will give Dillon a chance to play a sleazy detective, possibly related to his sleazy high school teacher in Wild Things. Few people combine sleaze and charm like Dillon.

Armored features another gang of thieves, this time "armored car guards who plan to empty their truck of $10 million," according to THR. Hmm, does that mean they're more modest than the thieves in Bone Deep? Will the two gangs run into each other while they're trying to get away? No word on what part Dillon would play, but Columbus Short, who just turned down The Green Lantern, will co-star. Nimród Antal (the excellent Kontroll and the surprising Vacancy) will direct. Before those films come out, we can anticipate Dillon in Old Dogs, Nothing But the Truth and Cadillac Records.

Put Seth Green behind the camera (as a writer and/or a voice actor), and I absolutely love him. However, when I have to look at him in front of the camera, part of me wants to punch a part of him (with the exception of Airborne -- I love that movie). Perhaps it's just me, but there's something about Green as a live-action actor that irritates the hell out of me. But maybe he's just choosing the wrong roles (Without a Paddle? Rat Race? Josie and the Pussycats?). That being said, The Hollywood Reporter tells us that Green has joined the cast of Old Dogs -- another comedy about a couple of guys whose "lives turn upside down" when they're put in charge of 7 year-old twins. Oh, the comic potential just oozes from this sucker.

John Travolta and Robin Williams have already signed on to play the male babysitters, while Green will play "an executive with the global marketing firm run by Travolta and Williams' characters as they are closing a big deal with a Japanese conglomerate." HR adds: "He is eager to prepare for his move to Tokyo and show off his Harvard MBA and Japanese cultural skills." Wild Hogs director Walt Becker will helm, with Matt Dillon, Travolta's wife Kelly Preston and daughter Ella Bleu Travolta also starring. (I believe part of Travolta's deal stated that his entire family would get roles too.) Disney will shovel this one out at some point next year (based on the success of Wild Hogs, I'd say we should expect it to be a summer release), while plans are already in the works for a Wild Hogs sequel. Aside from Mr. Mom (which is one of my all-time favorite Michael Keaton roles), I've never been a fan of this concept. I mean, how many diaper-changing gags are there? However, Williams always has the ability to shine when he's given room, and so this film should definitely appeal to the mass audience. But will the critics like it? Something tells me no one gives a crap about what they think.

Just for you Wild Hogs fans out there, I have yet more information about the next "old" Disney flick from Walt Becker -- Old Dogs. The John Travolta-starring film most recently got Robin Williams, Kelly Preston and Ella Bleu Travolta added to the cast. Dogs is about a divorced father of 6-year-old twins who ends up having to take care of the kids for a few weeks with his "womanizing best friend/business partner." I'd imagine that Preston is the ex-wife, Williams the lecherous partner and Travolta the dad. There is still no word, however, if Ella Bleu is playing dual roles, or is just another kid in the film. Regardless, there's another Dog to add to the cast, one who isn't quite so decrepit and old -- Matt Dillon.

He's in final negotiations to co-star in the film as "the overzealous leader" of a summer camp that the twins are taken to. (Sheesh, all this kerfuffle about having to watch the two kids and someone else is taking care of them for most of their waking hours!?) To make things sticky, he's "ultraconservative and thinks the two men are actually gay lovers who have adopted the twins." Apparently, the whole faux gay thing is hot right now. First there's Chuck and Larry, and now Williams and Travolta. Being conservative and faced with the gay, Dillon's character keeps an eye on the two men. I'm sure that means that the duo will do lots of things to fire up the camp director's suspicions. Anyone want to place bets on how many furry jokes there will be? I mean, you can't insinuate things about the beast that is Williams and not go there!

While Erik Davis might not have gotten his wish to have the Smith family of Will, Jada and super-cutey Jaden slip in to co-star in Walt Becker's next upcoming Disney flick Old Dogs, John Travolta got his wish to have wife Kelly Preston and daughter Ella at his side. (Dogs would be Ella's first feature and jump into her parent's business.) This is not entirely surprising, as there's no real reason not to have the family Travolta all present and accounted for in this buddy comedy. It's also not surprising that Robin Williams has finished his negotiations to co-star with the disco giant-turned-Scientologist.

Along with the main players, we also have word on the plot. According to Variety, the story written by David Diamond and David Weisman is about two business partners and best friends (I presume Travolta and Williams) whose lives are flipped "upside down when they find themselves in the care of 7-year-old twins." I'm finding the wording incredibly interesting, which is why I quoted it. "In the care of" they say... What does this mean? Does something incapacitate the Old Dogs, leaving them in the care of 7-year-old twins? And whose twins are they? Definitely not Travolta's, unless his kid is playing dual roles. Oh, the intrigue that Disney creates! Sure, it sounds goofy, but it's not like Wild Hogs wasn't, so I imagine this flick will continue to rake in the cash and provide light entertainment for the fluff fanatics.

Disney definitely has old man, animal fever. We posted last month that the company was so confident about Walt Becker's Wild Hogs, that they were going to do a similar middle-aged romp, again with John Travolta, named Old Dogs. However, Erik's wish for the Smiths to join the Travoltas in the buddy comedy isn't going to happen. Will already has his own dueling dads film to shoot -- the upcoming Time Share. So, who do you get to team with Travolta? According to Variety, you look to funny man, Robin Williams. It makes sense. Not many actors are as goofy as Williams, and he loves his family films.

While Dogs will be similar to Hogs, Disney still wants more middle-aged men, and are also looking into a Hogs sequel (dizzy yet?). All of the cast are currently in talks to continue the story, and I sort of wish this is the film Williams was signing on for. I can totally see more motorcycle madness with Mork on the roster. In my alternate reality, the film would have a bit of a Grease 2 spoof -- while the old men are sitting on their Hogs at the local convenience store, a mysterious biker with extremely hairy arms bikes around, making all the ladies swoon with his special moves, while they ask: "Who's that guy?" Unfortunately, that's not going to happen.

But that's not all that's in store for Becker, because Disney can't get enough of him. They've also signed him for another film, once Dogs is finished -- an adaptation of his own adventure comedy novel that was published in 1998 -- Link. Where Hogs and Dogs are mid-aged craziness, Link is about a sort of Indiana Jones. However, the twist is that it has "an extraterrestrial origin for some of humanity's best and worst traits." Sound familiar? If this gets off the ground, would Travolta team up with Becker again? He's definitely got some experience with handling alien-derived emotions!