Date Night (2010)

Plot: Phil (Steve Carrel) and Claire (Tina Fey) are a married couple who are stuck in a constant routine. They decide to change it up and go to a fancy restaurant. They fail to get a table. They steal a couple's reservation when they fail to show up. Then a case of mistaken identity leads to a chaotic date night that they won't forget.

Review: I enjoyed this movie.

What I like about the film's plot is that it ignores the typical romantic comedy story. It decides to take a typical idea and make it melodramatic and hilarious. There's no denying that the story and circumstances are exaggerated and over the top, but there's no denying that the premise is entertaining.

Despite the melodramatic situation, the film's characters feel very real to me. Phil and Claire are a couple that are determined to have their lives be more than what it is. They don't want to have their life planned out by routine. They want to live a spontaneous life every once in a while, which is why they go to that restaurant and steal the couple's table to begin with. It's a way of looking for some sort of escape.

Tina Fey and Steve Carrel are what makes the movie work. They're hilarious separately and they're just as funny together. Their comic timing and how they work blends together perfectly. You can also tell that Tina and Steve improvised a lot in this. For example, the stripper pole scene where Phil licks the pole and when he starts humping the floor. They make jokes and gags that I don't think would be funny if it was another actor saying them.

The rest of the film's cast is very good. Taraji P. Henson plays a detective and I think she plays the part well. She's a good female protagonist who knows how to stand up for herself, especially to pig-headed men. Jimmi Simpson and Common play the thugs that go after Phil and Claire. They're both very convincing as crazy gunmen. William Fitchner is the district attorney and I found him to be good in his respective role. We also have Mark Wahlberg, James Franco and Mila Kunis who appear and I found them to be hilarious and provide good laughs. The entire cast is talented and they work well together. But Tina Fey and Steve Carrel still make this movie for me.

Date Night is a funny and entertaining comedy.

Rating: 3.5/5