"Date Night" Review - Written by Anthony T

Date Night
Year: 2010
Director: Shawn Levy
Stars: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Walberg
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Running Time: 88 Mins












Yes, I’m reviewing yet another romantic comedy, after having to deal with the humorless film known as “The Bounty Hunter”. Hopefully, “Date Night” will be much better.

The film is about married couple Phil and Claire Foster (Steve Carrel, Tina Fey) who always have a weekly date night to get away from their problems. In order to make that night fun again Phil decides to Claire to an expensive restaurant. Only problem is, they have no reservation. So when Phil finds out that a couple has no showed their reservation, he and his wife decide to take that reservation. That turns out to be a problem, when two men who think that they are the no show couple.

Soon their night becomes chaotic, as they are trying to outrun the police and the mob is out to get them. In order to find a way to find that couple that had the original reservation and why the mob is looking for them. This comedy also has apperences by Mark Walberg (The Italian Job”, “The Departed”) Mark Ruffalo, Kristen Wiig (Adventureland), James Franco (Spider-Man 1-3), and Mila Kunis (The Book of Eli).

At least this film didn’t turn out to be another disaster, like “The Bounty Hunter” was. “Date Night is a funny film that generates laughs that everyone can enjoy. Director Shawn Levy does a good job making every work very well. He makes most of the scenes funny, by the way that he directs them. It’s not forced or so lackluster of personality that you’re sitting there waiting for a humorous moment to happen, which makes you bored and not having a good time with the film. Thankfully there are humorous moments in the film that helps it not fall into chick flick category. The reason that Levy was successful in doing this, the way he directs the acting in the film. He does a good job in developing chemistry between the two leads. It makes the film fun to watch.

Speaking of the acting and chemistry, they both helped make this film entertaining. Both Steve Carell and Tina Fey were both very good here. Their styles of acting gelled very well here, as they really did a very good job developing chemistry that need for a film like this. The other thing that I liked about the main performances, each of them brought personality to their characters. That’s what I want to see in these romantic comedies, not brooding or annoying characters that take up most of the screen time.

The screenplay written by Josh Klausner is effective enough that it generate humor and an entertaining love story. Yes, the story seems generic, but it’s the execution that makes it would worth the hour and a half of my life. One of the things that Klausner does to make this work, the lead characters are likeable and no so annoying to the point that you tune out of the story. That was one of the main problems that I had with a recent romantic comedy that I recently reviewed for the site. I liked how he develops and sets up the main characters, as it helps you get you caught up in the adventure that this couple is having. The other thing that makes it work, the way that Klausner times the humor in the film. It doesn’t come at you a hundred miles per hours; instead it comes in the way that you caught up in the humorous action. Also, I like how there was actual thought into some of the dialogue and jokes. Those worked very well, as it generated laughs to the point that it makes the story and the film enjoyable. The only problem that I can see with this film was that it was a little too short with it eighty-eight minute running time, as there could have been a good ten more minutes added, but still I enjoy this film.

“Date Night” is a perfect date night film for those you are looking for a fun filled film with two very talented comedians.

Review Rating: Four Stars.