Bill Burr
Jack Kelly
Old Dads
“Times have changed. They didn't get the fax.”
2023
1h 42m
Director: Bill Burr
Overview
A cranky middle-aged dad and his two best friends find themselves out of step in a changing world of millennial CEOs and powerful preschool principals.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Last Stand of the Unapologetic Dad
I’ll admit it: I went into Old Dads expecting a feature-length version of one of Bill Burr’s stand-up rants. You know the kind—loud, profane, and unapologetically pissed off at the way the world has changed while he wasn’t looking. What I didn’t expect was the moment, about two-thirds of the way through, when the film suddenly swerves.
Not into sentimentality, exactly, but into something quieter. Something like regret.
That’s the thing about Old Dads: it’s a movie that wants to have its cake and smash it against the wall. It’s a comedy about three middle-aged men—Jack (Burr), Connor (Bobby Cannavale), and Mike (Bokeem Woodbine)—who feel increasingly out of place in a world that no longer values their brand of grumpy, unfiltered masculinity. They’re fathers, business owners, and, above all, men who refuse to apologize for being who they are.
The problem? The world around them is demanding exactly that.
The film’s opening act is a masterclass in setting up its central conflict. Jack, Connor, and Mike run a sporting goods store that’s being taken over by a millennial CEO (Miles Robbins) who insists on turning it into a “wellness hub.” The scene where the new boss explains his vision—complete with yoga mats, organic snacks, and a “mindfulness corner”—is played for laughs, but it’s also a microcosm of the film’s larger theme: the generational clash between old-school values and modern sensibilities.
Burr’s Jack is particularly volcanic in his reaction, his face twisting into a mask of barely contained rage as he listens to the CEO’s plans. It’s a moment that feels ripped straight from Burr’s stand-up, and it’s undeniably funny. But it’s also a setup for a question the film never quite answers: Is Jack’s anger justified, or is he just refusing to grow up?
The chemistry between the three leads is the film’s strongest asset. Cannavale, in particular, steals scenes as Connor, the most level-headed of the trio. His reactions—eye rolls, sighs, and the occasional deadpan remark—are a perfect counterbalance to Burr’s more explosive energy.
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBill Burr’s Directorial Debut: The Messy Birth of Old Dads
Bill Burr’s Old Dads (2023) wasn’t just a movie—it was a high-stakes gamble. The comedian, known for his fiery stand-up and F Is for Family animated series, stepped behind the camera for the first time, co-wrote the script, and starred alongside Bobby Cannavale and Bokeem Woodbine. The result? latestnetflix.com's view is that A Netflix comedy that divided critics and left fans debating whether Burr’s brand of humor translates to feature filmmaking.
A Personal Project with High Expectations
Burr didn’t just direct Old Dads—he poured himself into it. The film follows three middle-aged friends (Burr, Cannavale, and Woodbine) navigating fatherhood, modern workplace absurdities, and the generational culture wars. The premise was personal for Burr, who became a father later in life and has often railed against political correctness in his comedy 
. Co-writing with Ben Tishler, Burr crafted a story that felt like an extension of his stand-up persona: unapologetically blunt, with a chip on its shoulder .
But directing a movie is a different beast than riffing on stage. Old Dads marked Burr’s first time helming a feature, and the pressure was on. Would his signature rage translate to the big screen, or would it come off as tone-deaf?
Mixed Reviews: Love It or Hate It
The film premiered on Netflix on October 20, 2023, and reactions were split. Fans of Burr’s comedy appreciated his take on aging, parenting, and the frustrations of modern life . The dynamic between the three leads—Burr’s neurotic Jack, Cannavale’s laid-back Connor, and Woodbine’s exasperated Mike—drew praise for its chemistry, even if the plot meandered .
Critics, however, were less forgiving. The Guardian called it an "angry, unfunny Netflix comedy" and a "bitter misfire," arguing that Burr’s humor didn’t land in a feature-length format . Deadline’s review acknowledged the film’s potential but noted that it struggled to balance its sharpest jokes with broader appeal 
. The verdict? Old Dads wasn’t a disaster, but it wasn’t the home run Burr might have hoped for.
Behind the Scenes: A Comedian’s Learning Curve
Directing a movie is a steep learning curve, and Burr’s inexperience showed in some of the film’s rough edges. While the cast—including Katie Aselton, Reign Edwards, and Jackie Tohn—delivered solid performances, the script’s pacing and tonal shifts left some viewers wanting more . Rumors (unconfirmed) suggested that Burr’s hands-on approach led to creative tensions, though no major behind-the-scenes drama has been publicly detailed.
What is clear is that Old Dads was a passion project for Burr. Whether it succeeds as a comedy or falls flat as a directorial debut, it’s a snapshot of a comedian testing his limits—and learning on the job.
The Verdict: A Flawed but Fascinating Experiment
Old Dads won’t go down as a classic, but it’s a fascinating case study in a stand-up comedian’s transition to filmmaking. Burr’s voice is unmistakable, for better or worse, and the film’s divisive reception proves that his brand of humor doesn’t always translate seamlessly. Still, for fans of his work, it’s a must-watch—if only to see what happens when a comedian steps out of his comfort zone.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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