“Date Night,” starring Tina Fey and Steve Carell, was an epic fail in my book. Fey and Carell play Claire and Phil Foster, a boring couple from New Jersey trying to spice things up in their relationship by living a little more adventurously, but find themselves in a serious pickle. After stealing another couple’s reservation at an upscale New York City restaurant, things seem to go downhill from there.
Don’t get me wrong, I am a Tina Fey fan because of “Saturday Night Live.” I’m also a Steve Carell fan because of “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “The Office.” However, this movie got maybe two miniscule chuckles out of me. In all honesty, the outtakes were 10 times funnier than the movie itself. This movie has potential, but I think it was just a little too cheesy for my taste thanks to the hokey one-liners and attempts at sexual puns. At least they tried. It was a good effort.
Approaching the end of the movie, I was just annoyed that it hadn’t ended yet. The plot seemed to be neverending. At least it wasn’t predictable. I didn’t know how the movie was going to end, but I knew all would be well for the Fosters. Frankly, by the time it ended, I didn’t really care.
It seems that these types of movies are coming out more frequently these days. And by “these types” I mean a story about a normal, boring married couple trying to be witty and funny who somehow manage to end up in this huge action sequence. Then, the movie comes to an end and everything worked out as it was supposed to and everybody is smiling. We’ve seen it all before, and we’ll see it again.
“Date Night” also stars Mark Wahlberg, Common, Jimmi Simpson, and Taraji P. Henson, with cameo appearances by James Franco, Mila Kunis, and last but not least, will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas. If you’re looking for the same type of humor as “SNL” or “The Office,” save your $9 and do not see this movie, because that humor does not exist in this flick.