(courtesy of 20th Century Fox)
New Jersey couple Phil (Steve Carell) and Claire Foster (Tina Fey) schedule a weekly “date night” to spice up their normal routine, but things don’t turn out as they expect.
During their weekly date at a local steakhouse, they talk about work and make guesses on each couple’s stories in the restaurant. One week, spurred by their friends who are getting a divorce, Phil and Claire decide to have an extravagant date.
The Fosters leave their children with a sitter and head out for an exotic dinner in the city. When the couple arrives to the exclusive restaurant they are unable to get a table, so they steal someone else’s reservations. Hilarity ensues as the Fosters are approached by two goons (Common and Jimmi Simpson) who believe that they are the “Tripplehorns,” (James Franco and Mila Kunis), a couple that has stolen something from their boss (William Fichtner). The rest of the film deals with the over-the-top adventure the Fosters embark on in order to correct their mistaken identity.
While this film is a comedy, this seems to be the only consistency throughout. The plot seems to be overall very spastic. One moment the viewer is in the cozy New Jersey home of the Fosters, then the next is racing through the city. Also, it seems as if the film was very confused about what it wanted to be: when there wasn’t a cheap laugh to be had, an action scene was introduced.
There is one redeeming factor though, the chemistry of Fey and Carell. These two are perfectly matched as both of their relatively dry comedic styles complement each other delightfully.
Though the film strived to be a comedy, a lot of the comedic points were heavily forced and seemingly a ploy to attract viewers. For instance, the role of Mark Wahlberg, whose scene only consists of him being shirtless and oiled up, seems unimportant to the plot but helpful in attracting viewers.
“Date Night” is far from the perfect date night flick, yet it is worth trip in order to experience the delight that is Steve Carell and Tina Fey.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Kenna Egbune at Ikenna.egbune@colorado.edu.
