It seems almost sacrilegious to have watched Date Night at 2:30 in the afternoon, but that’s just how I roll. The theaters are so much more pleasant during the day…
So what is there to say about Date Night really? It was fun to watch. I laughed some. I’ve seen worse comedies. I’ve seen better comedies.
And this is definitely a comedy. Though it does involve a couple rediscovering their love for one another, don’t let that plot element fool you. This does not qualify as romantic comedy.
Steve Carell and Tina Fey are funny people. That cannot be denied, and this movie rests squarely on their shoulders. They look at the camera and they do what they do. And they do it well.
The outtakes from the credits make it clear that this movie was solely based on the improvisational abilities of its leading actors. I’m grateful that they know what they’re doing, because premise alone would have left this movie out in the cold.
I know that all sounds harsh. It sounds like I don’t like the movie. But that’s not the case. It just didn’t blow me away; or have me laughing with any sort of oomph.
There is a hilarious bit with James Franco and Mila Kunis, as well as a pretty fun time with Mark Wahlberg. Faces that you recognize just seem to pop up all over this movie, making it fun even when it’s slow.
Olivia Munn even drops by for a very small cameo which left me wondering why she hasn’t managed to break into mainstream acting yet. She’s one of the funnier females on television, and there just aren’t enough female comedians out there for us to watch.
I particularly liked the recurring joke of the disdain that people had for the couple upon finding out that they had stolen someone else’s reservation at a posh NYC restaurant. From NYC cops to hardened criminals, it seems that everyone thinks it wrong to steal a reservation.
In keeping with Carell’s recent movies, there is a surprising amount of action with the comedy. One fairly long sequence involving an audi sports car and a NYC taxi cab is pretty classic. While watching the scenes I couldn’t help but wish that the same premise could be done in a real action movie.
If you’re the type of person who has a crush on Tina Fey, then you’ll certainly like her here. She manages to be ‘geek sexy’ with ease in this movie, which allows us to readily believe that Carell and her would have really hooked up. The chemistry between the two is pretty solid.
Overall, Date Night is a decent movie. It is what I expected it would be. No more, no less.
Verdict: B- Tilt: B-