Movie Review : Date Night

If you are married with kids, and in the 30-45 age group, you will enjoy or at least appreciate "Date Night," the goofy romantic comedy co-starring Steve Carell (from the television series, "The Office") and Tina Fey (from TV's "30 Rock").

The plot of the movie centers around Phil (Carell) and Claire Foster (Fey) a married couple from New Jersey whose lives has become rather routine. Fearing that they will eventually end up drifting apart and divorcing like their best friends, the Fosters decide to add a little bit of romance to their lives by going on a date to a trendy Manhattan restaurant, where a case of mistaken identity turns their date night into a run for their lives.

"Date Night," however is far from the perfect date movie, not that Carell or Fey don't try to work with the plot thy have been given, they do. It's just that for the better part of this one hour and 28 minute movie, they are too busy running away from would be assassins to make use of their fantastic sense of humor and comedic timing. Too often wit and good writing is traded in for physical comedy, and the movie suffers because of it.

Still, when they are able to stand (or sit) together long enough to showcase their talents, Carell and Fey are plenty funny. Among the most hilarious scenes in this movie is the scenes in which Phil and Claire entertain themselves over diner by trying to guess the romantic history of the couples around them. In fairness to movie goers though, too often my wife and I found ourselves laughing out loud by ourselves through this movie, even though the theater was far from empty.

Adding comedy and color to "Date Night," in a brief but funny cameo appearance are James Franco, and Mila Kunis, who play a couple of low level hoods that go by the names "Taste" and "Whippit," and whose identity were stolen by the Fosters earlier in the movie. Steve Wahlberg also adds an element of humor to the story line by playing a shirtless security expert who is a former client of Claire.

Overall, the movie rates much higher than a rental, but a lot lower than the type of classic comedy you will be remembering and quoting for years to come.