Old Dads

Last updated

Old Dads
Old-Dads poster.jpg
Release poster
Directed by Bill Burr
Written by
  • Bill Burr
  • Ben Tishler
Produced by
  • Monica Levinson
  • Ben Tishler
  • Bill Block
  • Bill Burr
  • Mike Bertolina
Starring
CinematographySean McElwee
Edited by
  • Patrick J. Don Vito
  • Adriaan van Zyl
Music by Christopher Willis
Production
companies
Distributed by Netflix
Release date
  • October 20, 2023 (2023-10-20)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Old Dads is a 2023 American comedy film directed by Bill Burr in his directorial debut, who produced and co-wrote with Ben Tishler. It stars Burr, Bobby Cannavale and Bokeem Woodbine.

Contents

After selling their business, three men find themselves out of step with the modern world.

The film was released by Netflix on October 20, 2023.

Plot

Jack Kelly, Connor Brody and Mike Richards have been friends and colleagues for decades. Now in their 50s, they struggle with the modern world and how they are expected to behave. For example, when Connor tries to get his son Colin (Dominic Grey Gonzalez) to apologize for hitting people, his wife Cara reprimands him. Deciding to sell their business Trifecta to some millennials, but kept on as employees, they are shocked when the hipster new boss Aspen fires everyone over 35 except them. Moving away from simply selling throwback team jerseys, the company is modernizing, becoming both gender- and carbon-neutral.

Jack gets publicly chewed out by the director of his son Nate's pre-school for being two minutes late and responds with the coarsest of vulgarities. His wife, Leah, forces him to apologize, as a recommendation will be needed from her for private kindergarten admission, and she points out he has anger management issues. When Jack and Leah go to the school to apologize to the director, she makes him do it to the group of parents and kids. A few pinpoint the specifics that upset them, he apologizes for each. However, Leah points out Jack must continue to be on his best behavior for the next three months so the director gives Nate a recommendation.

Meanwhile, divorcé and father of two adult sons Mike arrives home to a surprise. Although he had had a vasectomy, his young girlfriend Britney divulges that she is pregnant. Later, the three friends meet at the bar and Jack and Connor try to get him to look on the bright side.

As Jack has been asked to organize the school fundraiser, he and Connor are made to feel marginalized by the millennials. Then, the three friends are sent to find Ed Cameron, a man who has chosen to be off-grid since the 1980s, to convince him to represent the company. Travis (Justin Miles), one of the young employees, accompanies them. As the old friends banter, he calls them misogynistic. Mike calls him out for his superior attitude, proving through his love of modern music that he is not always politically correct either. When they hit an armadillo, Ed comes to collect it.

Meanwhile, Leah comes across Cara. Colin walks up and hits her pregnant stomach. When she warns him, he blatantly punches it. Cara defends him and the women argue. At Trifecta, although the trio were successful recruiting Cameron, Aspen fires them as a hidden camera in the rental car caught their misogynistic banter. Even Travis is sacked, as his TV camera captured him singing strongly worded rap lyrics as he started his day.

Afterwards, Mike cuts off ties with Jack; Connor is not allowed to have contact because of Cara's anger at the Kellys, so Jack focuses on the school fundraiser. Everything goes well until he has another blow up, resulting in Leah kicking him out. Jack and Mike coincide in a late-night eatery. They make peace, then pick up Connor for a casino bachelor party road-trip, as Britney insists they marry. They come across Aspen, who has been fired for accidentally using politically incorrect jargon and dumped. Later, at a strip club, Jack gets a call that Leah is in labor. Drunk, they are forced to get an Uber. Excruciatingly slow, they end up grabbing small electric scooters to complete the journey.

Missing the birth, Jack still makes up with Leah and vows to go to therapy. In the end, they opt for public school for Nate and Jack has learned to control his temper. Mike proposes to Britney properly and Connor gets Cara to lighten up.

Cast

Production

The spec script for Old Dads was noted in 2020. [1] In March 2022, it was announced that Bill Burr was co-writing, directing and starring in a project called Old Dads for Miramax and Burr's own production company All Things Comedy. Announced as appearing alongside Burr were Bobby Cannavale and Bokeem Woodbine.

The script was co-written by Ben Tishler, who is also producing alongside Burr, Bill Block, Monica Levinson and Mike Bertolina. [2] In March 2022, it was reported that Katie Aselton was playing Burr's wife Leah. [3] That same month, Reign Edwards was added to the cast as Britney, Woodbine’s girlfriend. [4]

Principal photography commenced in Los Angeles on 2 March 2022 and disclosed as joining the cast were Jackie Tohn, Miles Robbins, Rachael Harris, Dash McCloud, Justin Miles, Natasha Leggero, Katrina Bowden, Josh Brener and Rory Scovel. [5] The feature was described as a "semi-autobiographical" by The Hollywood Reporter , who interviewed Burr from his on-set trailer in April 2022, and that the screenplay was inspired by Burr and Tishler both experiencing fatherhood relatively late in life. Bertolina was quoted as calling it "Bill's stand-up in a narrative form". [6]

Release

Old Dads was released by Netflix on October 20, 2023. [7]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 25% of 44 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.6/10.The website's consensus reads: "With Old Dads, Bill Burr shows signs of promise as a filmmaker -- but they're largely muffled by his fitfully funny screenplay's reliance on tired jokes about generational divides." [8] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 42 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>Longshot</i> (film) 2000 film by Lionel C. Martin

Longshot is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Lionel C. Martin, and written by Lou Pearlman, as a promotional tool to promote the acting debuts of his succession of successful boybands and girl groups, such as NSYNC, O-Town and Natural, as well as singer Britney Spears, girlband Innosense and pop-hip hop trio LFO, all of whom had cameo appearances in the film, as Pearlman had worked with all of them during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Hunter Tylo, Paul Sorvino Antonio Sabato Jr., Zachery Ty Bryan, and Kenny Rogers star in the film and Spears has a cameo.

<i>Jasons Lyric</i> 1994 film directed by Doug McHenry

Jason's Lyric is a 1994 American erotic romantic psychological drama film, written by Bobby Smith Jr., directed by Doug McHenry, who co-produced the film with George Jackson and Marilla Lane Ross, and starring Allen Payne, Jada Pinkett, Bokeem Woodbine, Treach, Eddie Griffin, Lahmard Tate, Lisa Nicole Carson, and Forest Whitaker. Set in Third Ward, Houston, Texas, the story is about two mentally scarred brothers who choose different paths in dealing with their tragic childhood. When the older brother found love, he starts facing tough choices: continue to feel family responsibility for his younger brother, or follow his heart to be with his girlfriend.

<i>Almost Heroes</i> American comedy Western film by Christopher Guest

Almost Heroes is a 1998 American adventure comedy Western film directed by Christopher Guest, narrated by Guest's friend and frequent collaborator Harry Shearer, and starring Chris Farley and Matthew Perry. The film marked Farley's last leading film role and was released posthumously, five months after his death in 1997.

<i>Life</i> (1999 film) 1999 film by Ted Demme

Life is a 1999 American buddy comedy-drama film directed by Ted Demme. The film stars Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. It is the second film featuring Murphy and Lawrence together, the first being Boomerang, in 1992. The supporting cast includes Ned Beatty, R. Lee Ermey, Obba Babatundé, Bernie Mac, Anthony Anderson, Miguel A. Núñez Jr., Bokeem Woodbine, Guy Torry, Michael Taliferro and Barry Shabaka Henley. The film is framed as a story being told by an elderly inmate about two of his friends, Ray (Murphy) and Claude (Lawrence), who are both wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. It received an Oscar nomination for Best Makeup at the 72nd Academy Awards. Life failed to meet the studio's expectations at the box office, and received mixed reviews from critics. The film later found a strong cult following among Murphy and Lawrence’s fans, establishing Life as a cult classic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Cannavale</span> American actor (born 1970)

Bobby Cannavale is an American actor. His breakthrough came with the leading role as FDNY Paramedic Roberto "Bobby" Caffey in the NBC series Third Watch, which he played from 1999 to 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Burr</span> American comedian (born 1968)

William Frederick Burr is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer and podcaster. He has released multiple stand-up comedy specials, including You People Are All the Same (2012), I'm Sorry You Feel That Way (2014), Walk Your Way Out (2017) and Paper Tiger (2019). He received a Grammy Award nomination for Paper Tiger, as well as a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for the dark comedy series Immoral Compass (2021–present). In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked him at No. 17 on their list of the "50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inkpot Award</span> Comics award

The Inkpot Award is an honor bestowed annually since 1974 by Comic-Con International. It is given to professionals in the fields of comic books, comic strips, animation, science fiction, and related areas of popular culture, at CCI's annual convention, the San Diego Comic-Con. Also eligible are members of Comic-Con's Board of Directors and convention committee.

<i>Jasper, Texas</i> (film) American TV series or program

Jasper, Texas is a 2003 American made-for-television drama film directed by Jeffrey W. Byrd. The teleplay by Jonathan Estrin is based on a true story and focuses on the aftermath of a crime in which three white men from the small town of Jasper, Texas, killed African American James Byrd Jr. by dragging him behind their pickup truck.

<i>Total Recall</i> (2012 film) 2012 film directed by Len Wiseman

Total Recall is a 2012 American science fiction action film directed by Len Wiseman from a screenplay by Kurt Wimmer and Mark Bomback, based on a story conceived by Wimmer, Ronald Shusett, Dan O'Bannon, and Jon Povill. It stars Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel. The film serves as a remake of the 1990 film of the same name, which is inspired by the 1966 short story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale" by Philip K. Dick. The supporting cast features Bryan Cranston, Bokeem Woodbine, John Cho, and Bill Nighy. Unlike the original film, the setting is on a dystopian Earth, not Mars.

"The Weekend" is the seventh episode of the first season of the American psychological thriller series Homeland. It originally aired on Showtime in the United States on November 13, 2011. The episode was written by Meredith Stiehm and directed by Michael Cuesta. It features series regulars Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Morena Baccarin, David Harewood, Diego Klattenhoff, Jackson Pace, Morgan Saylor, and Mandy Patinkin.

William Hunt Block is an American film producer who served as CEO of Miramax from April 2017 to October 2023. His producing credits include W. (2008), District 9 (2009), Fury (2014), Bad Moms (2016), Dirty Grandpa (2016), Halloween (2018), and Halloween Kills (2021).

<i>F Is for Family</i> Adult animated web comedy series

F Is for Family is an American adult animated sitcom created by Bill Burr and Michael Price for Netflix. It is produced by Vince Vaughn's Wild West Television, King of France Productions, Loner Productions, Gaumont International Television and Gaumont Animation. Set between October 1973 and December 1974, the series follows a dysfunctional suburban Irish American family in the fictional town of Rustvale, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 ESPY Awards</span>

The 2015 ESPY Awards was the annual ESPY Awards held annually with 32 awards in total being handed out, honoring the best in sports. They were presented on July 15, 2015 and hosted by actor and comedian Joel McHale from the Microsoft Theater in Downtown Los Angeles. For the first time in its 23-year history, the ceremony was broadcast on ABC.

<i>I, Tonya</i> 2017 film by Craig Gillespie

I, Tonya is a 2017 American biographical sports black comedy mockumentary film directed by Craig Gillespie from a screenplay by Steven Rogers. It follows the life and career of American figure skater Tonya Harding and her connection to the 1994 assault on her rival Nancy Kerrigan. The film states it is based on "contradictory" and "totally true" interviews with Harding and her ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, suggesting they are unreliable narrators. This means the viewer must decide for themselves whether to see the film as the truth or as a version concocted by Harding herself. It features darkly comedic interviews with the characters in mockumentary style, set in the modern day, and breaks the fourth wall. Margot Robbie stars as Harding, Sebastian Stan as Gillooly, and Allison Janney as Harding's mother LaVona Golden. Julianne Nicholson, Caitlin Carver, Paul Walter Hauser, and Bobby Cannavale also star.

<i>Spenser Confidential</i> 2020 American action comedy film

Spenser Confidential is a 2020 American action comedy film directed by Peter Berg, with a screenplay written by Sean O'Keefe and Brian Helgeland, and based on characters created by Robert B. Parker. The film stars Mark Wahlberg, Winston Duke, Alan Arkin, Iliza Shlesinger, Bokeem Woodbine, Donald Cerrone, Marc Maron, and Austin Post in his first film appearance, and marks the fifth collaboration between Wahlberg and Berg after Lone Survivor, Deepwater Horizon, Patriots Day, and Mile 22.

Justin Morgan (<i>Home and Away</i>) Soap opera character

Justin Morgan is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Home and Away, played by James Stewart. The actor was contacted by his agent and the head of drama at Seven Network about the role. After hearing their pitch, Stewart auditioned and won the part. He began filming in December 2015, and made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 7 June 2016. Justin was introduced to the show along with his three siblings; Tori Morgan, Brody Morgan and Mason Morgan. The family received immediate comparisons to the show's popular Braxton brothers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Migs Mayfeld</span> Fictional character from The Mandalorian

Migs Mayfeld is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise who appears in the Disney+ television series The Mandalorian. He is a former Imperial sharpshooter turned mercenary who leads a crew in an attempt to rescue a prisoner from a New Republic prison transport ship. His team includes the show's protagonist, "The Mandalorian", with whom he repeatedly clashes and ultimately betrays. The Mandalorian outsmarts him, resulting in Mayfeld's arrest and imprisonment, though he is later released so that he can aid the Mandalorian's efforts to rescue Grogu. As a result, the character evolves from a minor antagonist to an ally of the Mandalorian, with whom he eventually makes amends during their mission.

James Parnell Spears is a retired construction business owner. He is the father of Bryan Spears, Britney Spears, and Jamie Lynn Spears.

<i>The Holdovers</i> 2023 film by Alexander Payne

The Holdovers is a 2023 American comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Payne and written by David Hemingson. Set in the winter of 1970-71, the film stars Paul Giamatti as a strict classics teacher at a New England boarding school who is forced to chaperone a handful of students with nowhere to go on Christmas break. Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Dominic Sessa play the school cafeteria manager and one of the students who stays on campus.

References

  1. ↑ "OLDDADS". tracking-board.com. July 25, 2020. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Comedian Bill Burr To Write & Direct Comedy 'Old Dads' For Miramax; Will Star Alongside Bobby Cannavale And Bokeem Woodbine". Deadline. March 3, 2022. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Katie Aselton Joins Bill Burr's Comedy 'Old Dads' For Miramax". Deadline. March 7, 2022. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Bill Burr's Comedy 'Old Dads' Adds 'The Wilds' & 'Snowfall' Actress Reign Edwards". Deadline. March 8, 2022. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Bill Burr's Directorial Debut 'Old Dads' Adds 9 to Cast". Thewrap.com. March 31, 2022. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Bill Burr: "I've Made Every Mistake You Can Make"". Hollywood Reporter. April 28, 2022. Archived from the original on September 18, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  7. ↑ "'Old Dads' Premiere Date Set as Bill Burr's Directorial Debut Lands at Netflix". Deadline Hollywood . August 21, 2023. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Old Dads". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Old Dads". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.