Filmantics

1:22 pm - Mon, May 17, 2010

Date Night

This action comedy tells the tale of mild-mannered married couple Phil (Steve Carell) and Claire (Tina Fey), who fear their relationship may be falling into a stale rut. During their weekly date night, they impetuously steal a dinner reservation, which leads to a case of mistaken identity. Turns out the reservation was for a pair of thieves, and now a number of unsavory characters want Phil and Claire killed. If they can survive a wacky life-threatening night, they may just rediscover the passion missing from their marriage. Directed by Shawn Levy, the film co-stars Mark Wahlberg, James Franco, and Kristen Wiig. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide (Fandango)

In simplest terms, it was a decent attempt at making a mildly amusing action-comedy with a well-known comedian and the magnificent Tina Fey.

Why I Thought Date Night was Pretty Lame, yet Liked it:

1. The story wasn’t at all compelling,
2. but it is decently entertaining nevertheless.
3. Tina Fey is God. I will follow her until the end of days.
4. Steve Carell acts in Tina Fey’s shadow for two hours.
5. The cameo with James Franco and Mila Kunis is amusing,
6. so was Mark Wahlberg’s cameo.
7. Leighton Meester’s was not…
8. Some one liners (mostly delivered by Tina) are noteworthy.
9. Most of the jokes had been done before.
10. It’s good enough for what it was made to be: a blockbuster comedy.

Grade: C, (and an A++ for Tina, but I’m biased.)

For the successful amusing of the audience it caters to through a star comedic cast, decent delivery of some promising one-liners, a silly, slapstick story line, and a healthy amount of crude humor topped off with the revelation and adorable solution of the problems surrounding a middle-aged married couple played by Tina Fey and Steve Carell.

So basically there isn’t much to say about Date Night. It’s not a movie that sparks much more conversation than re-quoting memorable funny lines or reminiscing on a few ridiculous moments that are really only funny because Steve Carell and the magnificent, brilliant Tina Fey are in them.

For what it was it was good enough. It was nothing special in terms of cinematography or production design. The story was pretty generic and mildly compelling.  I was amused at where the story was going, but wasn’t on the edge of my seat. What mostly carried the movie was the acting and comedic delivery.

Tina Fey and Steve Carell were the main box office draw, and mostly lived up to expectations.  Steve Carell was funny enough, though I would have rather seen him live up to the performances he’s given in movies like The 40 Year Old Virgin. Instead it was more along the lines of Evan Almighty… which luckily the beautiful and talented Tina Fey was there to pull him through!  Though she’s been in much better performances as well, her impeccable line delivery and improvisations that made it to the final cut helped carry the film. Finally, the cameos made the film as enjoyable as it was. Mark Wahlberg’s appearance was mildly amusing. He’s an attractive male. But my favorite was James Franco and Mila Kunis. Everybody enjoys watching hot people cameo in comedies, and theirs was pretty successful I believe.

In the end, I enjoyed a movie in which I’ll probably watch again, and enjoy again.

Notable Moments: When Steve Carell and Tina Fey walk back into Claw to look for the Triplehorn’s number and pose as pretentious, upper-class assholes. Also, Tina Fey in a burlesque stripper costume… hot. Finally the James Franco/Mila Kunis cameo. That’s definitely one of the best scenes.

Compare it to: Get Smart, 27 Dresses, any generic romantic comedy that has an action twist