Release Date – 4/9/2010
Phil and Claire Foster are in a boring marriage. They both really care for each other but they work very hard and have kids to take care of, so it really takes away all their energy to do anything together. They try to schedule date nights but end up just eating the same meal at the same restaurant in their normal routine. One night they decide to live on the edge and go out in the city to a fancy new restaurant. Of course it’s booked up and the only way to get a table is to steal someone else’s reservation. They don’t realize they stole the reservation of a couple who is involved in a blackmail plot with some dangerous mobsters. Now they have to clear their name while trying not to get themselves killed. What do you get when you cross Michael Scott, Liz Lemon, and action scenes? This movie. Nothing new from these two actors, your usual silliness which does make for an enjoyable flick.
Steve Carell and Tina Fey play the leads. Both of them are funny people so putting them together is a big plus. They didn’t hit the ball out of the park with this one though. More of like a double into the gap (Sorry baseball season just started). It has a good amount of laughs but not the kind where you miss whats going on in the next scene because you’re laughing so hard. It did have some cool action scenes, especially one where two cars are stuck together head on and still on the run from cops. It may have tried a bit too much to go action when it should have went comedy. There were a lot of small parts for known actors like Mark Wahlberg, Taraji P. Henson, Ray Liotta, Kristen Wiig, Mark Ruffalo, JB Smoove, James Franco, Mila Kunis, and many more. It was nice seeing them pop up for short scenes but the majority of the film is carried by Carell and Fey. Maybe some of those small characters in more leading parts would have helped. JB Smoove from Curb Your Enthusiasm had a hilarious scene, its actually the same one with the cars connected that I already mentioned.
Date Night was directed by Shawn Levy who did both Night at the Museum movies and Cheaper by the Dozen so there’s a definite cheesiness to it, and of course there’s nothing too shocking. Its easily accessible for all ages but rated PG-13 for a little bit of sexual innuendo and a tad bit of language. Nothing major. I expected more laughs from two of TV’s biggest comedy stars right now but I definitely cant bash the movie. If you like Carell and Fey, or just one or the other, then you’ll probably get some enjoyment from the movie. It’s exactly what the title says, a date night comedy. Good for a few laughs and some cheap action while out with your significant other.
IMDB – 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes – 65%
Movie Wiseguys – 7/10