DeniReview: Date Night
April 19th 2010 13:10
Category: Comedy
Rating: ***1/2 out of 5 stars.
Finally, a romantic comedy that doesn't follow the usual boring formula. You know how it is:
1. Boy meets girl.
2. They like each other.
3. Something happens and they break up.
4. They realize they can't live without each other.
5. They get back together.
And of course there are varying degrees of the above but it's all the same. Blah, Blah, Blah!
"Date Night" introduces us to a different type of couple. The married with children couple. Not only that but married with children who have no problems that threaten their marriage kind of couple. Wow, now isn't that a nice change? Who would have thought that you could make a movie about such a couple? Finally someone is using their brain.
Phil and Claire Foster, both hilariously played by Steve Carell and Tina Fey are your average marrieds who live in New Jersey. They both have successful careers and they work together to raise their children. The only problem that they have is that their marriage has become a bit too routine. This is not so much of a trial because they both actually love each other. It's just that once in a while, they need an added boost to their relationship from time to time.
There's a funny scene when they both get ready for bed and Claire puts in her mouth guard. Phil takes this to mean that they are not going to have sex. When Claire removes it and assures him that she can get it going, Phil loses the mood when a huge dollop of saliva drips from her mouth. But that's okay, their love is still in tact. That's what happens when you've found your true mate. Love still conquers all even in gross moments like this, it just means that the sex will have to be postponed until the image fades - and rightly so. Yuck!
Despite the fact that their friends are on the verge of a divorce because of the same "routine" that they are experiencing it is not even an option that they give up on each other. Yet, still not wanting things to go in that direction Claire decides spruce up their next scheduled date night by putting on her best dress and Phil takes this as a sign that perhaps he could do with taking Claire some place special - like to the city for a proper night on the town.
Phil's brief moment of spontaneity comes at the wrong moment when he ends up taking over a reservation for a coupled named Tripplehorn, who never show up and that is when all hell breaks loose. "Date Night" turns into a comedy of mistaken identity. They soon find themselves running for their lives when some shady cops who are involved with a mob boss, are after them - well they are actually after the Tripplehorns anyway.
Through their adventure they both reveal certain frustrations about their marriage but ultimately they learn to appreciate each other even more and they find that they are doing just fine as they are - a boring married couple from New Jersey.
What can I say about Steve Carell and Tina Fey that you don't already know? What's really funny about this movie is that they both portray such a clueless suburban couple caught up in a situation where they are completely out of their element and lacking the necessary street-smarts when dealing with the world of crime. Kudos to Mark Wahlberg in the supporting role of a shirtless security agent who's sympathetic to their plight.
It's about time we are given a romantic comedy that goes against type. Who says you need two young attractive actors for this type of movie anyhow? This is a great date flick that no one should pass up.
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