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| Poster artwork for the comedy action film Date Night. |
Marriage
Mender by Linh
Date
Night is the film that masquerades as a romantic comedy before
unveiling its more chaotic and dramatic nature.
The film centres on a married couple from New Jersey with children,
named Claire Foster, a bored wife, and her boringly predictable husband Phil
Foster. One night they decide to spice up their love life by going out on a
dinner date together. After failing to make a booking at a posh restaurant called
‘Claw’ in Manhattan, Phil eventually accepts a booking under the name of
Tripplehorn. This leads to mistaken identity, a wild chase through the streets
of Manhattan from corrupt police officers, seeking assistance from a former
military officer who works in security, and a dodgy district attorney.
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COUPLE
CRISIS: Claire (Tina Fey) and Phil (Steve Carell) phone home in
the film Date Night. Image: Twentieth
Century Fox.
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On the surface, Date
Night is a lightweight comedy driven by a predictable plot involving car
chases, gunfights, some shady characters and a crucial USB flashdrive. Under
this formulaic veneer belies a more meaningful message of communication and
understanding in relationships. Sometimes it takes a jolt to the system to act
as a reminder to show appreciation and patience, such as the frantic fear Phil
and Claire experience in one night of madness and mistakes.
Date
Night has more to it than the average romantic comedy; even
the stars Steve Carell and Tina Fey, throw in more than a few funny lines and
some hot moves in an impromptu pole dancing performance. The leading cast
convincingly manages to make the uncomplicated plot interesting but the
supporting cast and cameos sustain the entertainment factor.
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EVADING
ENEMIES: Claire (Tina Fey) and Phil (Steve Carell) narrowly escape
the corrupt cops in the film Date Night.
Image: Twentieth Century Fox.
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Steve Carell gives his usual schtick in a performance better
than most of his other comic roles, with Phil Foster as the goofy tax
consultant-turned-hero who surprises when you least expect; 30 Rock star and writer Tina Fey adds
her subtle comic flair to Claire Foster, a suburban house wife/realtor in need
of stress relief, only to find her stress-levels hitting new heights while on a
nightmare date with husband Phil; Mark Wahlberg is cool, composed and the token
eye-candy as Claire’s former client, Holbrooke Grant, who appears topless in
every scene; Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson is excellent as tough-talking and
no-nonsense Detective Arroyo.
The cameo appearances lift the comedy bar for the film
with James Franco as the scam artist named Taste, and Mila Kunis as his partner
in crime, Whippit; Ray Liotta is suitably unyielding as mobster Joe Milletto;
Jimmi Simpson, best known as the creepy and sinister Lyle the intern on The Late Show with David Letterman, and
rapper Common, play corrupt cops Armstrong and Collins, respectively, who are
fun to watch as their guns and police training fail them in capturing Phil and
Claire.
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POLICE
PLEA: Claire (Tina Fey) and Phil (Steve Carell) seek help from
Detective Arroyo (Taraji P. Henson) in the film Date Night. Image: Twentieth Century Fox.
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Director Shawn Levy has a knack for comedy and his verve
adds to the film’s overall effectiveness. Oscar-winning cinematographer from
South Australia, Dean Semler skillfully captures the film’s car chases, the
cabbie crush scene and the night club atmosphere with his keen eye for detail
and action. Date Night is a fun and
satisfying serve of silliness, but with heart and hilarity added to the mix.
Great out-takes and bloopers appear during the closing credits and if you stay
until the end of the credits, you’ll get a special treat in the form of Carell
craziness and Fey funniness.
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CLIENT
CALL: Claire (Tina Fey) and Phil (Steve Carell) ask Holbrooke
(Mark Wahlberg) for a favour in the film Date
Night. Image: Twentieth Century Fox.
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Director:
Shawn Levy
Writer: Josh
Klausner (screenplay)
Cast: Steve
Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg, Taraji P. Henson, James Franco, Mila Kunis,
Mark Ruffalo, Kristen Wiig, Leighton Meester, William Fichtner, Ray Liotta,
Olivia Munn, Will.i.Am, Jimmi Simpson, Common, J.B. Smoove, Bill Burr, Jonathan
Morgan Heit, Gal Gadot
Producers:
Shawn Levy, Josh McLaglen, Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr., Tom McNulty, Billy
Rosenberg
Cinematographer:
Dean Semler
Original
Music Composer: Christophe Beck
Film
Editor: Dean Zimmerman
Production:
David
Gropman (Production Designer), Dan
Webster (Art Director), Jay Hart (Set Decorator)
Costume
Designer: Marlene Stewart
Running
Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes
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