"Due Date" Is Not My Kind of Comedy but it May Be Yours

I have always loved Robert Downey Jr. as an actor. He is remarkably talented. I haven't; however, always loved him as a role model. It appeared for awhile that he sould never outgrow his dependence on drugs and alcohol. Miraculously, he eventually resurfaced and put his career back together.

I was surprised that following high profile roles in "Iron Man" and "Sherlock Holmes", Downey chose to play in the strange little comedy "Due Date." Therefore, I figured it must be a good film. My views came out mixed. It isn't my kind of comedy but I'm sure there are many who will like it.

"Due Date" is about a businessman named Peter Highman (Downey, Jr.). He is on his way home from a business trip to be present for the birth of his child. Unfortunately, along the way he meets a budding actor names Ethan Tremblay, played by Zack Galifianakis. That chance meeting eventually becomes Peter's undoing.

One thing leads to another. Ethan mixes up his and Peter's bags. That leads to embarassment for Peter during a routine search. Then Ethan starts a fight with Peter on the plane, which gets them both getting kicked off the plane and put on the "no fly" list.

From there it goes further downhill. With Peter's wallet still on the plane, Ethan is able to convince him to share a rental car to drive to L.A. After that, it is one catastrophe after another.

I didn't like this movie. I thought it was far too sophomoric. But then, I'm not into such juvenile hijinks and slapstick. Some people are. To each his own.

I found Galifianakis's character grating, irritating, irresponsible, inconceivable and irredeemable. Need I go on? To say the actor overplayed the part would be an understatement. But I don't fault him. I'm certain he was told to play it that way for supposed comic effect.

Downey, Jr.'s character wasn't much better, although he did have a moment or two of humanity here and there. Still, let's just say I wouldn't want his character for a father. In fact I would refuse to be born if I knew he was waiting there for me.

The screenplay penned by Alan R. Cohen, Alan Freedland, Adam Sztykiel and Todd Phillips was nothing more than a long list of disgusting, childish, humiliating pranks all rolled into a single script. Since when did masturbating on screen become a form of comedic entertainment?

I think "Due Date" was trying to be a knock off of sorts from the highly popular "Hangover" of a couple years back. It wasn't. It didn't even come close.

Writer Todd Phillips also directed. Consequently, I'm sure he kept every distasteful moment of the script in tact. He probably thought it was hilarious. Maybe to some of today's warped minds, it was. That, in itself, is a sad commentary on our current state of affairs.

I recommend running, not walking, away from this movie. That is, of course, unless you think falling asleep at the wheel and endanger an interstate full of people or shooting someone is funny business. If you do, then have fun. Personally, it just made me want to gag. What was I thinking?

I give "Due Date" 1 out of 5 stars. I could never in good conscious recommend this movie.

RATING SCALE USED:

0 = A stinker. Don't waste the money!
1 = Bad. Rent it at your own risk.
2 = Below average. See only if you have time to kill.
2.5 = Average. A toss up.
3 = Good. Worth a looksee.
3.5 = Very Good. I recommend it.
4 = Excellent. Don't miss it!
4.5 = Outstanding. What are you waiting for?
5 = Destined to become a classic. You will be sorry if you don't see it.