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Two comedians not always funnier
What would you possibly get if you put two of the hottest comedians in one movie? The answer is you'd get some action rom-com
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What would you possibly get if you put two of the hottest comedians in one movie? The answer is you'd get some action rom-com.
It's Steve Carrel and Tina Fey, two of today's most popular funny folks on network television. Carell stars in TV comedy The Office while Fey is the star and creator of 30 Rock. Hollywood filmmakers believe they could draw moviegoers to the cinema and make million of dollars by marrying the two comedians.
It seems like they could be a perfect couple in a film, but does the formula of casting Carell and Fey in the same movie work well? There are only two possibilities: lame or fame.
Date Night has some potential aspects to steal the heart of moviegoers. Their star-pull has been the most promising factor for this movie. Not to mention Shawn Levy, a prominent director known for a number of thriving comedies such as Just Married, Cheaper by the Dozen, The Pink Panther and Night at the Museum.
You might expect much from the casts and credits, but you'd better not have high expectations or else you'll be disappointed.
In Date Night, Carell and Fey display their comical charms just like in their TV series. They are funny. But in some ways, the film turns out as "just-like-any-other" romantic comedy, easy to forget about.
The two actors play Phil and Claire Foster, a couple living with two kids in a suburban area in New Jersey. The Fosters have set a weekly date night - an attempt to rebuild romance between them, going out for a dinner at the same old local restaurant.
But their conversations always head into the same old boring chat they usually have at home. Tired of their jobs and chores, their dates rarely end in romantic scenes.
One week after they are shocked by the split of their close friends - another couple with kids (played by Mark Ruffalo and Kristen Wiig), Phil and Claire begin to fear of the possible stagnancy of their relationship.
In an attempt to spice up their date night, Phil takes Claire downtown to have a romantic dinner at a posh restaurant. All seats at the restaurant, however, have been fully booked and the Fosters have not made reservations.
While Claire thinks of another restaurant, Phil doesn't want to give up.
He "steals" the reservation of another couple. They pretend to be the Triplehorns, the couple who have made the reservation do not show up at the restaurant.
But this sudden luck, is the beginning of a series of unfortunate events. While they are enjoying arrays of expensive risotto and sipping glasses of wine, they are questioned by a pair of thugs in black jackets (Common and Jimmi Simpson), who happen to be corrupt cops.
It turns out that the real Triplehorns have been hunted down by the men for having stolen a flash-drive from the town's mobster, Joe Miletto.
The Fosters are later trapped in a mistaken identity, causing them to spend their evening on the run, embarking on a wild yet dangerous situation of crazy adventures to save their lives, as well as their marriage.
In just one night, Phil and Claire soon deal with a shirtless security expert Holbrooke (Mark Wahlberg), a district attorney with dark secrets Frank Crenshaw (William Fichtner), and the real "Tripplehorns" (James Franco and Mila Kunis).
Overall, Date Night is a quite amusing rom-com before the filmmakers can't help themselves from overdoing the final scene.
You start to believe it would be nice to see Carell and Fey acting apart. In fact, it is Franco and Kunis who really steal the show and they're only in the film for a couple of minutes. Too bad.
Wahlberg's appearance as a super cool hunk also gives the film some color, while Liotta's character as a villain adds credit.
The message of this movie is clear: you'd better not take someone's restaurant reservation.
Verdict: Date Night is not a bad idea for an entertaining outing and having some laughs. It's a rare occasion to see the comedy duo playing together.
Date Night (88 minutes, 21 Laps Entertainment)
Directed by Shawn Levy
Produced by Shawn Levy, Tom McNulty
Written by Josh Klausner
Starring Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg, Ray Liotta, James Franco, Mila Kunis, Mark Ruffalo
