Date Night-2010

Director Shawn Levy

Starring Steve Carell, Tina Fey

Scott’s Review #481

Reviewed September 17, 2016

Grade: D+

Date Night is a perfect example of mediocrity in modern filmmaking.

We have two current comedic actors here- Steve Carell and Tina Fey- circa 2010- at the top of their game.

The filmmaker’s idea is to pair these two and make an appealing romantic comedy for the masses.

The main issue with this film is that the result is generic and quite an average offering.

The entire film is incredibly plot-driven, with no character development to speak of.

If I am being too harsh, admittedly there is nice chemistry between the two leads, but it is wasted by sloppy writing.

A couple from the New Jersey burbs, Carrell and Fey portray husband and wife, Phil and Claire Foster. Saddled with two kids and their romance reaching dullsville, Phil decides to take Claire to a ritzy Manhattan restaurant.

When they arrive, they cannot get a table, so they pretend to be another couple a get one after the other couple no-shows. This leads to a tale of mistaken identity as the other couple possesses a flash drive that a mobster (Ray Liotta) wants.

This leads to a chase through Manhattan as they try to outrun and outwit their pursuers.

Wahlberg plays a hunky client of Claire’s, always shirtless, who threatens Phil and Claire’s marriage.

Several others of the current Hollywood elite- Kristen Wiig, James Franco, Mila Kunis, and Mark Ruffalo- make small and somewhat pointless appearances. Specifically, Franco and Kunis as a stoner-type bickering couple are silly and unnecessary to the story.

Carrell and Fey are quite funny as individuals and as a duo. Date Night, though, does not capitalize on or showcase their respective talents.

The film tries too hard to come up with scenario after scenario of the two on the run and encountering one problematic situation after another.

As the plot of Date Night wears on, I notice that each situation is a matter of convenience.

Conveniently, Claire has a client in town (Wahlberg), who is a security expert. They go to him for help and, predictably, his hunkiness bothers Phil and piques Claire’s interest- though, of course, we know full well Phil and Claire will end up together- that is how these mainstream films go.

In another scene. Phil and Claire can break into an office building unnoticed, trigger the alarms, conveniently find a needed file, and escape, miraculously all before the police arrive minutes later.

Very plot-driven.

The lead actors in Date Night are appealing and even charming together, but it falls flat. Still, the inane plot makes it unappealing to watch, and the slew of stars that somebody decided would be a great addition to a lukewarm film is odd.

The roles written have little bearing on the central plot, so it was apparent why they were added.

Date Night (2010) is a film we have seen time and time again with other actors in similar roles.