Reviewed by Kate Rodger
The Date Night premise is neither fresh nor original, but the comic chemistry of Tina Fey and Steve Carell elevates the tired material to unexpectedly enjoyable heights.
Fey (30 Rock/Mean Girls) and Carell (Anchorman/40 Year Old Virgin) are Claire and Phil Foster, a busy couple buried in parenthood and with little real time to themselves. They have a ‘date night’ every week, but it’s usually the same favourite local restaurant, and there are few surprises.
They both get a bit of a wake-up call when their best friends decide to split up. It was time for the Fosters to work on the marital bond.
Their next date night rolls around, but instead of the usual local, they adventure forth onto the exciting island of Manhattan, and to it’s newest flashest eaterie. Of course they can’t get a table, but undeterred they pretend to be another couple who are no-shows. Pretending to be someone you’re not is never a wise move. They suddenly find themselves being chased by the mob and all manner of craziness unfolds.
Now this is when the movie really gets silly, but for the sake of comedy, I suggest you forget about all that and just let the good times roll.
There are two highlight cameos. Mark Wahlberg’s chest is one of them. Wahlberg (The Happening/The Lovely Bones) is enlisted to help the Fosters escape their plight and manages to spend the entire movie shirtless. It’s delivered very tongue-in-cheek and the self-mockery works a treat, as does his chest.
James Franco (Spiderman 3/Pineapple Express) was the other stand-out for me, as a tattooed small-time criminal and all round loser.
This movie is billed as an action-comedy and it does okay on the action front. In fact, this is definitely the funniest car chase in recent memory, when the Foster’s ‘borrow’ a flash sports car only to crash it head-on into a cab. They become stuck, and the “Pushmi-pullyu” from Doctor Dolittle was never ever this hilarious.
Date Night is best described as patchy, but this is one of those times where the lame moments and silly premise are worth it for the big laughs in-between. And at one and half hours, it’s the perfect length.
Leave your brain at the door, and take in your laughing gear.
Three and half stars.
Date Night
:: Director: Shawn Levy
:: Starring: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg and James Franco
:: Running Time: 88 mins
:: Rating: M - Contains Offensive Language & Sexual References
:: Release Date: April 8, 2010
:: Trailer: Click here
