Bill Burr finally did it. He directed a movie, starred in it, and basically filled the screen with people who look like they’ve spent the last twenty years arguing about the "correct" way to grill a steak or why kids today don't understand the nuance of a well-timed Foo Fighters track. We’re talking about the cast of Old Dads, a Netflix original that hit the streaming giant with a specific kind of grumpy-man energy that either resonates deeply or feels like a personal attack, depending on how you feel about artisanal oat milk and HR-compliant workplace banter.
It’s a weirdly personal film. Burr plays Jack Kelly, a guy who is basically a slightly more cinematically polished version of his podcast persona. But a movie like this doesn't work if the protagonist is screaming into a void. You need a foil. Actually, you need several. The movie centers on three best friends who sell their vintage jersey company to a millennial CEO who thinks "vintage" is just a filter on Instagram.
The Core Trio: Burr, Cannavale, and Woodbine
The chemistry here isn't faked. It feels lived-in.
Bill Burr (Jack Kelly) is the anchor. If you've followed Burr’s career from the "Philadelphia Incident" to F is for Family, you know his brand. He’s the guy who sees a "No Parking" sign as a personal challenge from the universe. In the cast of Old Dads, he represents the absolute refusal to pivot. He’s the guy who still wants to use words that have been retired from the English language since 2014.
Then there is Bobby Cannavale (Connor Brody). Cannavale is one of those actors who is somehow in everything and yet always feels underutilized until he gets a role like this. He plays the "cool dad" who is desperately trying to stay relevant. He’s got the younger wife, the expensive house, and a soul-crushing fear that he’s becoming obsolete. Cannavale brings a frantic, sweaty energy to Connor that balances Jack’s pure, unadulterated rage.
Completing the trifecta is Bokeem Woodbine (Shane Campbell). Woodbine is a revelation. Usually, we see him in high-stakes dramas or playing terrifying villains—remember him in Fargo? Seeing him play a suburban dad who is just trying to navigate a divorce and keep his blood pressure down is hilarious. He’s the "sensible" one, which, in this group, is a very low bar to clear.
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The Supporting Players: Who’s Who in the Chaos
Beyond the main three, the cast of Old Dads is packed with character actors and comedians who pop up for a scene and leave a mark. It’s a very "LA" movie in that sense; everyone feels like someone you’ve seen at a grocery store in Silver Lake.
- Katie Aselton (Leah Kelly): She plays Jack’s wife. In most "grumpy dad" movies, the wife is just a nagging trope. Aselton manages to make Leah feel like a real person who actually likes her husband but is exhausted by his inability to not start a fight at a preschool orientation.
- Reign Edwards (Britney): She plays Connor’s much younger, much more "evolved" wife. The age gap isn't just a punchline; it’s the source of most of Connor’s anxiety.
- Miles Robbins (Aspen Bell): This is the "villain" of the piece, though he’d probably call himself a "disruptor." Robbins plays the 28-year-old CEO who buys the guys' company. He’s the embodiment of every tech-bro stereotype: the buzzwords, the performative empathy, and the absolute lack of life experience. He’s the perfect foil for Burr.
Honestly, the casting of the kids and the parents at the private school is where the movie gets its sharpest satirical edges. You’ve got cameos from people like Rory Scovel, who is a genius stand-up in his own right, playing a character that perfectly encapsulates the "modern sensitive father" that Jack Kelly despises.
Why This Cast Works (And Where It Grates)
Casting a comedy isn't just about putting funny people in a room. It’s about rhythm.
Burr is a percussionist. He hits hard and fast. Cannavale is more melodic, and Woodbine is the bass player holding the rhythm section together. When they are in the car together—which happens a lot—the movie feels like a podcast come to life. That's both a strength and a weakness. If you like the banter of middle-aged men complaining about the world, it’s gold. If you don't, it’s a long 104 minutes.
The movie deals with "cancel culture," but it does it through the lens of people who are genuinely confused by it rather than people who are actively trying to be hateful. That’s a fine line to walk. The cast of Old Dads has to sell that nuance. They have to make you believe that these guys aren't "bad" people; they're just "old" people who didn't get the updated manual for 2024.
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Realism vs. Caricature
Let's be real for a second. The "millennial" characters in this movie are played for laughs. They aren't three-dimensional. They are avatars for everything that irritates Bill Burr. Miles Robbins plays Aspen Bell with such a punchable level of smugness that you almost forget he’s actually making some valid points about workplace culture.
On the flip side, the "Old Dads" themselves are also caricatures. Jack Kelly’s temper is a liability. The movie doesn't shy away from the fact that his rage is damaging his life. The cast of Old Dads brings enough humanity to these roles that you don't just see them as mouthpieces for a specific political or social viewpoint. You see them as friends.
Notable Cameos You Might Have Missed
If you blink, you might miss some of the comedy heavyweights hidden in the background. Jackie Tohn (from GLOW) shows up. Justin Miles is there. Even C. Thomas Howell—yes, The Outsiders legend—makes an appearance as a character named "Hickory," which is about as on-brand as it gets for this film.
The Production Context
Directing your first feature is a nightmare. Doing it while starring in it is masochism. Burr filmed this in Los Angeles, and you can tell he knows these streets. The locations—from the sterile, "open-concept" offices to the dive bars—feel authentic to the experience of a man drifting through a city that is changing faster than he can adapt.
The script was co-written by Burr and Ben Tishler. Tishler has a background in sports documentaries, which might explain why the movie feels so focused on the "team" dynamic of the three leads. There’s a locker-room energy to their conversations that feels more grounded than your typical Hollywood bromance.
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Navigating the Controversy
When Old Dads dropped, critics weren't exactly kind. It currently sits with a pretty middling Rotten Tomatoes score. But look at the audience score. There’s a massive gap.
Why? Because the cast of Old Dads speaks to a specific demographic that feels ignored by mainstream prestige cinema. It’s the "guy who just wants to buy a hammer without having to use an app" demographic. The cast nails that feeling of being a "dinosaur" while you're still in your late 40s.
Actionable Takeaways for Movie Night
If you’re planning on watching this, or if you’ve seen it and want to dive deeper into why it looks and feels the way it does, keep these points in mind:
- Watch for the non-verbal cues: Pay attention to Bokeem Woodbine’s face when Bill Burr is ranting. Half the comedy in this movie is just Woodbine reacting to the insanity around him.
- Check out the "Bill Burr's Monday Morning Podcast": To understand the DNA of this movie, you have to hear the source. Many of the rants in the film are refined versions of bits Burr has been working out on his podcast for years.
- Look at the Costume Design: The contrast between the "Old Dads" in their cargo shorts and faded tees versus the "New Dads" in their high-end athleisure is a subtle masterclass in visual storytelling. It tells you everything you need to know about the class and generational divide before a single line of dialogue is spoken.
The cast of Old Dads isn't trying to win an Oscar. They're trying to capture a very specific moment in time where a generation of men feels like the world has moved on without them, and they're not quite ready to go quietly into that good night. Whether you find them charming or obnoxious, the performances are undeniably committed to that vision.
To get the most out of the experience, try viewing it as a character study of friendship under pressure rather than a political statement. The chemistry between Burr, Cannavale, and Woodbine is the real heart of the story, proving that even as the world changes, the idiocy of your best friends is a constant you can rely on. Check the credits for the full list of stunt performers and bit parts—it’s a massive list of LA locals and comedy veterans who make the world of the film feel densely populated and lived-in.