MOVIE OF THE WEEK #2: DUE DATE
DUE DATE.
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Robert Downey, Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Jamie Foxx, RZA, Danny McBride, Michelle Monaghan, Juliette Lewis and Matt Walsh
WRITER(S): Alan R. Cohen, Alan Freedland, Adam Sztykiel and Todd Phillips
DIRECTOR: Todd Phillips
WEB SITE: http://www.duedatemovie.com/
THE PLOT: The big comedy you've been hearing about for weeks in hopes of being this year's version of The Hangover (which is no coincidence considering the director and one of the co-stars, but more on that later), Due Date stars Robert Downey, Jr. as Peter Highman. A relatively high strung architect, Peter is in Atlanta on business and has only one thing on his mind when he arrives at the airport: Getting back home to his wife (Michelle Monaghan) who is due to deliver their first child within the week.
There's just one problem standing in Peter's way: The presence of Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis), an aspiring actor who, like Peter, is also heading to Los Angeles.
Unfortunately for Peter, an incident - let's just leave it at that for the purpose of not ruining the movie - prevents him from being able to fly home. Also, his wallet and ID are missing, which leaves him with one option: Riding cross country with Ethan or miss the birth of his first child. And that's a problem because Ethan - who just lost his father - acts like one himself a LOT.
Stuck between an airport and a hard place, Peter decides to go along for the ride ... And oh what a ride it is.
THE TAKE: If you're going to just skip to the end of this review, you'll probably see the rating and say 'Why would he, a self-appointed comedy/Robert Downey, Jr. fan only give a movie that looks so funny the rating he did?' Well, if you DON'T skip down, you'll find out as I'll explain!
Here are the main two things that keep Due Date from being a better film: [1] There are funny moments, but none that are, pardon the term, dynamic "LOL" text messaging inspiring moments; and [2] As talented as he is, as funny as he can be and as thick as he can grow a beard, Galifianakis's man-child act (as seen in The Hangover, Dinner for Schmucks, Youth In Revolt, ...), is like the Cincinnati Bengals offense this season - good in small doses, but wears thin as the game wears on.
The story in and of itself works just fine, but Galifianakis' character's stupidity would, if it were real life, make you want to assault him in an aggravated fashion. In reel life, it just makes for a character that wears on your nerves after a while. Don't get me wrong, Due Date will make you laugh, but it also will make you ask "So, when's the Hangover 2 coming out again?" (And yes, there will be a sequel.)
PARTING SHOT: While Due Date accomplishes its main goals of deliver infantile laughs more often than not, it wouldn't hurt if it was a bit more grown up.
RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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