Review: ‘Date Night’

date-night-poster Movie:Date Night
In Theaters: April 9, 2010 
Director: Shawn Levy
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual and crude content throughout, language, some violence and a drug reference
Buy It: On DVD or Blu-ray
Gecko Rating: 3 Gecko

REVIEW: Pair the comedic talents of Tina Fey and Steve Carell, and you’re bound to get some laughs. There are plenty of laughs in ‘Date Night,’ although more chuckles than laugh-out-loud moments.

Carell and Fey play Phil and Claire Foster, a bored married couple who are stuck in a rut of doing the same thing day in and day out. So they decide to go on a real date night, ditching the usual New Jersey steakhouse for a romantic dinner in Manhattan.

When they arrive at a high-class restaurant, of course there are no tables available, so Phil wildly takes the reservation of another couple who didn’t show up. The only problem is that this other couple (which turns out to be James Franco and Mila Kunis in spectacularly seedy roles) has a checkered history.

Thugs arrive at the restaurant thinking the Fosters are the other couple. Much zaniness ensues as the Fosters go on the run, pursued by both cops and bad guys, and have to use their wits and resources to figure a way out of this mess.

date-night-1

Thankfully, Claire has a good connection in a guy named Holbrooke (Mark Wahlberg), who works in private security and has access to helpful information. Most of the comedy comes from Carell and Fey’s physical comedy and chemistry. The other players, which also include thug Ray Liotta (is he typecast for life, or what?), simply revolve around the Foster’s crazy antics.

Amidst the action, we do get some nice revelations about marriage and what it means to be in a long-term relationship. This movie really appeals less to kids and teens, and more to married couples thinking they need to jazz up their relationship.

Images: 20th Century Fox Film Corp.

Comments

  1. Sheryl Avatar
    Sheryl

    Thanks for the review, Jane. I keep on noticing the ads but have not paid much attention to the reviews. Might be worth seeing it on my very own date night!

  2. Alexandra Avatar

    I really admire Tina Fey, and the premise of this film doesn’t sound too far out, but all the clips I’ve seen on TV don’t make me want to see it. Too frantic for my pace. Your review confirmed my impression. Thanks!

  3. […] can read my full review here, but to summarize, the story follows married-in-a-rut couple Fey and Carell, who find themselves on […]

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