“You took someone else’s reservation? Who does that?” says everyone that Phil and Claire meet while they're on the run.

Phil Foster (Steve Carell) is a boring tax lawyer and his wife Claire (Tina Fey) is an equality boring realtor. Talk about being in a rut! Day in and day out, they face the same everyday problems, the kids; the lack of romance. After all who wouldn’t feel romantic when their partner pulls out their mouth guard before kissing and it’s dripping with saliva? No, thanks! After spending the evening at a book club/get together with friends, they decide they need to spice things up.

Phil and Claire head to Claw, a trendy and super-expensive restaurant in Manhattan. Unfortunately without reservations they are forced to wait at the bar hoping a table might become available. When they hear the hostess repeatedly calling for the Tripplehorn’s, with no response, Phil says, “That’s us, We are the Tripplehorns.” Little did he know that decision would soon have them dodging the “kill shot” and running for their lives. What do you do, when you discover that you’re actually running from cops on the take and a corrupt district attorney?

Good movie moments:

Tina Fey and Steve Carell have excellent comedic timing and great on screen chemistry. “Who are you?” Phil asks his wife when she breaks into an office to get information to use in their escape.

Common, Ray Liotta, Mark Ruffalo, Taraji P Henson and Mark Wahlberg give great performances in their respective supporting roles.

Date Night is the perfect combination of action and comedy all rolled into one.

I loved the scene when Phil and Claire were trying to make a quick get-away and jumped into a boat thinking they were going to make a quick getaway across the lake, however, the boat was super-slow.

Not so great movie moments:

James Franco, Mila Kunis give crazy, over-the-top performances as the real Tripplehorns. Given there was little intimate physical activity in the movie, this seemed a bit of over-kill.

If you’re easily offended by strip-clubs. The Fosters actually perform an “exotic” dance in a club for the corrupt district attorney.

Overall, I give this movie a 4 out of 5 stars. Not so much for the action, but definitely for the comedy. The action is just a bonus in this one.

Details:

Director: Shawn Levy (Also directed the Night at the Museum movies)

Rating: PG-13 (Some comedic violence and gun-shooting. No real blood scenes. Mark Wahlberg has his shirt off and there is some mildly suggestive language and then there is the over-the-top kissing scene with Franco and Kunis, but it only lasts a few seconds.

Run time: 88 minutes

Find it on Amazon!




This movie is part of my own personal action/comedy movie collection.