Movie Review: "Date Night"

Seen on: April 6, 2010

The players: Director: Shawn Levy, Writer: Josh Klausner, Cast: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg, Common, Mila Kunis, Jame Franco

Facts of interest: None, really.

The plot: A married couple spends a night running around Manhattan after they're targeted by a group of ruthless criminals looking for a flash drive.

Our thoughts: Shawn Levy's new comedy "Date Night" certainly isn't as entertaining or hilarious as one might have hoped, but a handful of likable characters and the undeniable comic talent of Tina Fey and Steve Carell eventually help turn the film into a passable big-screen experience. To tell you the truth, without those two, this flick would be nothing short of an intolerable mess.

The story centers on Phil and Claire Foster (Carell & Fey), a married couple bored with all the everyday responsibilities and routines that come with marriage and children. The two love each other and manage their suburban household well, but the spark between the two has gone, and they could both use some new excitement in life.

Little do the Fosters know they’re in for a night full of terror and surprises when they head to Manhattan for a date night at a prestigious seafood restaurant. Unable to get a table, Phil just takes someone else’s reservation, and next thing the Fosters know, they’re being held at gunpoint in a dark alley by two tough guys asking for a flash drive.

What ensues from this unfortunate incident is a nightlong adventure during which Phil and Claire are running for their lives while trying to figure out what the heck is going on and why they’re targeted by a gang of ruthless criminals. On the positive side, this night also helps them reconnect and rediscover that spark they were so desperately seeking.

As much as I love the idea of having Carell and Fey star in a comedy about a date night going horribly wrong, Shawn Levy’s film failed to live up to my expectations. It’s not that “Date Night” is a bad film, but it just lacks the deliciously hilarious humor and surprising plot that helped make other recent comedies so easy to watch.

Essentially, all Phil and Claire are doing for the most part is running around town trying to stay alive, and while I see a lot of potential in such a premise, I feel screenwriter Josh Klausner simply ran out of ideas at one point. Whatever happens to the Fosters isn’t nearly as interesting as just watching Fey and Carell harmonizing on the big screen.

“Date Night” provokes several brief smiles, but big laughs are scarce. Fey and Carell look better than ever, and I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing them pair up again onscreen in the future. Mark Wahlberg delivers the goods in a supporting role as a former friend of Claire’s, and cameos by James Franco and Mila Kunis worked perfectly for me as well.

Freaky quote: "No, no, we might get bumped off. We're not going to get whacked off." - Steve Carell

The final word: “Date Night” does a fine job at showing audiences how Phil and Claire rediscover why they got married in the first place, but the movie falls flat in the action and humor department. Some jokes work while others don’t but from a more global perspective, a lot of the concept’s potential wasn’t used appropriately enough. This is a decent date flick, but it sure isn’t a memorable one.

Article by Franck Tabouring