Apr 9 2010

Date Night

Phil and Claire Foster (Steve Carell and Tina Fey) are a mostly ordinary couple from New Jersey. He’s a tax advisor, she’s a real estate agent, together they have two kids, their lives are pretty full just trying to keep the house afloat. In an effort to spice up their relationship the two head into New York on a date together, instead, a case of mistaken identity makes for one evening they’ll never forget. By the end of the night the Fosters are wanted by the police, the District Attorney (William Fichtner), and mobster Joe Miletto (Ray Liotta). How to clear their name and get back to their kids looms large; and, just who exactly is Holbrooke Grant (Mark Wahlberg), and how did he get such perfect pecks? Date-Night-Poster
While not exactly a cookie cutter romantic comedy simply out of the fact that the players involved are top notch improvisers, the overall plot line and script leaves little to the imagination. Carell and Fey do manage to get in a few solid hits; and, seeing the two riff with each other comedically does provide for a few laugh out loud moments, especially during the out takes in the end credits. Shallow and stereotypical character development does prompt a few eye rolls, but otherwise there’s not a lot to rant or rave about this one, it’s just kind of “there.” Maybe a matinee for those just pining for a romantic comedy, more fitting as a rental. Date Night is rated PG-13.