ALARIS' REVIEWS

4th August 2010
Date Night (2010)

I’m a big fan of Tina Fey’s work, and although she always plays the same character – oddball control freak – it’s a character I enjoy watching. However, after the extremely flat Baby Mama (2008), I was hoping that Date Night would be an improvement. Thankfully, it was.

Date Night is a comedy about Claire and Phil Foster (Fey and Steve Carell), an ordinary married couple who become embroiled in a night of gangsters, espionage and car chases, when they impulsively take another couple’s reservation at an exclusive restaurant.

Surprisingly, the plot doesn’t feel as ridiculous as it sounds. While not a sophisticated film, it isn’t as dumb as I’d feared. The comic scenarios are balanced with some quieter, personal moments. Between breaking and entering, and fleeing from crooked cops, Claire and Phil are trying to deal with a relationship that’s sputtering on autopilot.

One of the pleasanter surprises for me was how likeable the Fosters are. Fey and Carell portray a very average couple, juggling family and work, and they have a genuine, if ragged, affection for one another. It’s easy to sympathise with their increasingly improbable situation, and the quirky humour is generally entertaining.

Date Night is a likeable comedy, which older couples may particularly appreciate. It’s great to see comedy action roles like this for women in Fey’s age bracket, and I look forward to her next project.

Verdict: An easy, entertaining comedy for people who aren’t stuck in their high school years.

If you like Tina Fey, you might like this.