Sudden fatherhood fazes Robin Williams in 'Old Dogs'

CEBU, Philippines - An Academy Award-winning actor unparalleled in the scope of his imagination, Robin Williams continues to add to his repertoire of indelible characters. Now, he plays a middle-aged bachelor suddenly thrust into fatherhood in Walt Disney Pictures’ new family comedy “Old Dogs.”

In the film, two best friends—one unlucky-in-love divorcee (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 7-year-old twins while on the verge of the biggest business deal of their lives. The not-so-kid-savvy bachelors stumble in their efforts to take care of the twins leading to one debacle after another, and perhaps to a new-found understanding of what’s really important in life.

Casting Robin Williams opposite Travolta created the ultimate dream team, according to the filmmakers. Says director Walter Becker, “This could be one of the greatest comedy pairings in a long time.”

Becker describes Williams as the consummate performer. “It’s incredible. He’s an encyclopedia of jokes, but he’s also got incredible depth as an actor. He can throw so much emotion just off a look and in the next second be incredibly funny.”

Williams portrays Dan, a brilliant but uptight executive who is also a romantic at heart. And when he gets impulsive, it’s in a big way. While recovering from a difficult divorce in South Beach with his pal, Charlie (Travolta), Dan finds himself in a quickie marriage—followed by a quickie divorce. Unbeknownst to Dan, he fathers twins during the brief encounter. 

Williams saw the film as an opportunity to revisit fatherhood. “Baby boomers are getting old. You find yourself taking a lot more time to do everything. We are now our parents; that’s frightening. You find yourself saying ‘I am my dad,’ and it’s a lot scarier dealing with children in your 50s than it was in your 30s.”

The relationship between Travolta and Williams was also as real as it appears on screen. “I’ve known Robin for 30 years and consider him to be an old friend,” says Travolta.

Concludes Williams, “A lot of his stuff is really physical and that’s been good, because he throws it back. If you throw it out there, he’ll come and meet you right there, which is great.”

Opening soon across the Philippines, “Old Dogs” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.