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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tina Fey & Steve Carrell are excellent in this frantic, uneven comedy, April 12, 2010
In order for a movie packed full of unlikely plot-developments and general silliness like DATE NIGHT, a cast that's easy to love who have razor sharp comic timing and mastery of their tone is needed. Fortunately, Steve Carrell and Tina Fey meet all three requirements, and thus, DATE NIGHT works on many levels.
Carrell and Fey play a nearly middle aged married couple with kids. They have a comfortable suburban life, and are still fond of each other, but they are also clearly just a bit worn out by life. "Date Nights" for them consist of going to a local steak restaurant, with worn-out décor and no sense of romance whatsoever. And in time-honored, clichéd tradition, they wonder if they are still in-love with the other...because they see their closest friends getting divorced. I hate the way Hollywood likes to make us think that no long term marriage could possibly still be happy and fulfilling. True, raising a family and nurturing a career and paying bills and time do take their toll...but mature couples embrace those things. They don't shake their heads with regret over the wild and crazy times they may have missed.
Anyway, I clearly digress. One day, Carrell decides to shake things up just a bit, and invites his wife to go "into the city" to try out a hot new restaurant they've heard of. Naturally, when they arrive, with no reservations, they are treated with withering disdain by the staff...but Carrell hangs in there, and when the name "Tripplehorn" is repeatedly called by the hostess to no avail, Carrell declares that he and his wife are the Tripplehorns and they are seated and begin to enjoy a lovely evening together. Then they are approached by a couple of thuggish men, who escort them to the alley and begin to rough them up. Because apparently the real Tripplehorns are engaged in blackmail, and they are being hunted by some bad men. Thus, Carrell and Fey embark on a pretty wild and crazy Date Night...one in which many silly moments of physical comedy happen to them and equally as many unlikely plot twits.
If you're going to see this movie for a coherent crime drama about two amateurs who foil a crime syndicate...you'll be disappointed. But if, like 99.99% of the people attending, you're hoping for some good laughs and high-quality banter...you'll be mostly pleased. Carrell & Fey deliver and then some. Although these two performers have not really worked together before, they both share a past history with Chicago's famed Second City Improv group, and their comic sensibilities blend together quite nicely. They can take some pretty mundane writing, and produce some remarkable laughs. While I won't go so far as to say that Carrell and Fey (the actors) are clearly affectionate towards each other...you can certainly see the appreciation for each other's skill on their faces. Carrell, in particular, gets a real twinkle of delight in his eyes when Fey delivers a great line. There is nothing serious in their performances, but there is a warmth and camaraderie that are infectious.
They are ably assisted by many good cameos, including a hilarious scene with James Franco and Mila Kunis and a recurring appearance from Mark Wahlberg, who plays a government security consultant (e.g. CIA) who has a lovely apartment and an apparent unwillingness to wear shirts. While Wahlberg isn't really asked to do much except allow Fey and Carrell to react to him...he shows a humor about himself that is often missing in his persona. The invaluable William Finctner shows up later, as does Ray Liotta, playing the character Ray Liotta always does.
The movie also features an unlikely but very funny car chase. Your enjoyment of it will greatly depend on your willingness to utterly suspend disbelief....but if you do, it's funny enough to cause a pain in your side. Other moments of physical comedy fall flatter, even when Fey & Carrell are funny, the stuff they are asked to do sometimes isn't. Again, in lesser hands (say, oh, Gerard Butler & Jennifer Aniston), this movie would be nearly intolerably shrill. But in the end, it's a wonderful tribute to the skills of its two stars and while it's not a classic screwball comedy, it is still well worth your time.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Two great comedic geniuses deliver!, July 10, 2010
This review is from: Date Night [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)
For a film that has a target audience - parents - Shawn Levy's latest film, "Date Night," is hilarious! Levy, best known for his family movie fare (Big Fat Liar (Full Screen Edition), Cheaper By the Dozen, The Pink Panther (Special Edition), Night at the Museum (Widescreen Edition)), takes his humor up a notch and applies it to a more mature audience. Starring a dream team of comic geniuses Steve Carell (Office: Seasons 1-5) and Tina Fey (30 Rock: Seasons 1-3), "Date Night" tells the story of a couple whose marriage has fizzled somewhat due to the every day occurrences of career and kids. Then, one night, on their date night, they lie to get a seat in the city's trendiest restaurant. And that's just the start of their problems.
The best thing about "Date Night" was its unpredictable charm, as well as its unpretentious seriousness and fun. Sure, most parents and married couples will laugh a little harder at the jokes and situations rather than younger, single audience members. But, with Carell and Fey heading a great cast (Ari Graynor, who has a small cameo appearance as one of Carell's clients, is so hilarious and definitely needs to headline her own movie), it's an enjoyable ride for anyone! The only slightly bad criticism I would have for the movie is that I thought the humor would've slightly been more plentiful what with Carell and Fey and their proclivity for ad-libbing. Regardless, this is a funny film and well worth viewing, whether in the theater or at home for your own little date night.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun, light entertainment, July 28, 2010
My wife and I saw Date Night yesterday, and we both found it to be a lot of fun. The first half of the movie is better than the second, but it's still OK. Tina Fey and Steve Carrell are great together, they have some definite comic chemistry and do a great job in the movie. All the banter and action is fun and funny. We both felt the movie could have been even better, but overall it was funny, good light entertainment for the evening. Especially recommended for adults with kids.
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