Standup comics who write and direct their own material run the risk of creating a long standup routine with characters and a hint of plot, but lacking a distinct style and point of view that sets it apart as more than just an extension of their brand. “Old Dads” is a movie that falls into this category, featuring three middle-aged Los Angeles men who become fathers after giving up on the idea decades ago.
Similar to Bill Burr’s animated Netflix series, “F is for Family,” and his earlier standup material before he became more introspective and nuanced, “Old Dads” is primarily a satire on “political correctness” – a phrase often used in standup to describe the consequences of saying anything controversial. The remaining portion of the movie is a meandering buddy film exploring midlife crisis, with Burr’s character Jack Kelly, along with his business partners and best friends Bokeem Woodbine and Bobby Cannavale, navigating the challenges of life after selling their vintage sports jersey replica business.
In the aftermath of the sale, the trio is kept on staff only to witness the termination of everyone born before 1988 – a potential age discrimination case that the movie casually brushes aside. The story then morphs into a parody of 21st-century tech bro and new media cliches, led by their young, wannabe-guru boss Aspin Bell (played by Miles Robins) who drowns them in disruptor culture buzz phrases while surrounding himself with a cult-like following. As if this weren’t enough to push the combative and self-righteous Kelly into a frenzy, he and his wife Linda (portrayed by Kate Aselton) face challenges at their son’s elite private school due to Kelly’s outdated parenting style clashing with the progressive beliefs of the staff and other parents who prioritize emotions and sensitivities above all else.
The “political correctness” aspect of “Old Dads” is reminiscent of TV specials that cater to political reactionaries and birthed the “triggered” meme. It follows the typical comedic formula of Los Angeles-based post-millennium comedies, relying on characters blurting out inappropriate things at inconvenient times for cheap laughs, while other characters (often Linda) step in to explain the inappropriateness and emphasize that the politically incorrect character is being stifled by the world. “Old Dads” laments the perceived over-coddling of society.
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