Much like a few weeks ago with The Bounty Hunter and Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler, Steve Carrell and Tina Fey were EVERYWHERE promoting Date Night. Unlike the former offensively bad piece of fluff, however, Date Night”, though formulaic in its plot and execution, is absolutely entertaining and a thoroughly enjoyable movie because it stars funny people saying funny things in funny waysand isnt that the way comedy is supposed to be?
Starts off, typical married couple Claire (Fey) and Phil (Carell) are fighting the battle that couples everywhere with kids and careers fight every daytheyve lost their spark. Even their normal date nights have become boring. When they learn of the impending divorce of two of their same situation friends, however, theyre a little shaken, and decide to do it up right with a swanky night out. Their little domestic adventure goes big time, though, when they decide to swipe another couples reservation and end up running from a slew of gun-toting baddies who think theyve got something they dont. Car chases, pole dancing, and many laughs ensue.
Carell and Fey are arguably two of the best comedy minds working today, and even if youre not fans of their shows (both The Office and 30 Rock, though consistently praised, arent everyones brand of humor), their combined abilities to ad-lib AND make a written joke extra joke-y will bring you into their fan base. Theyre also perfect as a couple, and even in a movie thats more here to make us laugh, theyre able to add that little bit of extra that proves even if their coupledom is in a slump, they really are soulmates who love each other. Another major factor in the success of this simple film concept is that the two leads are surrounded by an outstanding supporting ensemble, especially James Franco and Mila Kunis as the real couple whose stolen identity starts all the shenanigans and an often-shirtless Mark Wahlberg. With all this talent, the film itself doesnt have to necessarily re-invent the comedy, and it doesnt, relying on a plot thats a bit like Move from Point A to Point B to keep the action going. It doesnt matter, though, because Date Night is a lot like one of those classically improbably screwball comedies that remind you what the genre should bejust plain funny.