Date Night (Review)

Posted By Dennis Willis on Apr 9, 2010 | 0 comments

DATE NIGHT (4/09/10; Comedy) Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg, Taraji P. Henson, Jimmi Simpson, Common, William Fichtner, Leighton Meester, Kristen Wiig, Mark Ruffalo, James Franco, Mila Kunis SCR: Josh Klausner DIR: Shawn Levy MPAA: PG-13 for sexual and crude content throughout, language, some violence and a drug reference. 1 hour 28 mins BOX: $90,604,361

Phil and Claire Foster (Carell and Fey) are bored parents spooked by close friends’ separation. They decide to spice up their weekly date night in Manhattan but after being denied at an exclusive restaurant, they take someone else’s table. Turns out the “Tripplehorns” are wanted by mobsters.

This may be a one-joke comedy – the suburban couple at odds with criminals and shady types – but at least it’s a funny joke, made funnier by nerdy Carell and Fey. Not only are they believable as a married couple but one almost gets the sense that in between the requisite bullets and car chases, they improvised as good comics are wont to do.

The strong supporting cast members do what they can with the story, which falls neatly into place as the movie progresses. Franco and Kunis cameo as the actual Tripplehorns. Wahlberg steals his scenes as a perpetually shirtless security expert. Stick around through the credits for the longest kiss in screen history. (Fox)

— DENNIS WILLIS