Date Night was advertised on television as a very light-hearted comedy with some dramatic action elements. However, the action comedy is actually very action-packed and heavy on guns, though tempered by the silly antics of the comedy duo Steve Carell (Phil Foster) and Tina Fey (Claire Foster). This does not mean that it was not full of good comedy and ridiculous moments and, in the end, the lesser action elements of the Date Night DVD are overtaken by the charm of the romantic couple, the Fosters.
In the Date Night movie, Phil and Claire Foster are a married couple from the New Jersey suburbs who decide to go on a "date night" in New York City. At the posh restaurant Claw they cannot get a table, so they snag one from a couple that has not shown up. Little do they know at the time, the couple whose table they took has been involved in some shady dealings, and when they are mistaken for that couple they become entwined in action-packed events that bring them closer together.
Comedy Duo: Steve Carell and Tina Fey
As has been pointed out in many a movie review about Date Night, the chemistry between Carell and Fey in the movie is phenomenal. Both the romantic and comedic chemistry are there, and they are perfect equals in terms of good comedy. Neither one outdoes the other as the "funnier one" of the comedy duo, and this balance offers a very refreshing counter to comedies today that have a "token" funny person.
Some of the best parts of the movie are where Phil and Claire are left alone to their silliness. While they have their share of awkward silences as a couple, they choose to spend their romantic dinners "people watching" and offer their own dialogue for neighboring couples, rather than chatting about mundane things. Carell and Fey, in typical fashion, have their characters offer ridiculous commentary, which in most cases is hilarious. At the closing credits, the audience gets to see that the actors improv-ed some of these lines, and some of Fey's "cut" lines are funnier than the ones kept in the movie (perhaps because they made Carell crack up too much).
Not only do Steve Carell and Tina Fey make Phil and Claire a silly couple, they also make them into a believable romantic couple. Without too much exposition, it is easy to believe that the two are very much in love but going through a crisis moment in their marriage. They need to bring back the spark, and they, of course, succeed in the end. But it is not about the ending, which everyone likely knows is coming: it is about the journey. And the stumbling Phil and Claire prove themselves to the audience as a loving, silly, and flawed couple of people who will strive to improve.
Action Comedy Elements in the Date Night DVD
The action element of the movie is basically a plot device to get Phil and Claire to think about their relationship and bring some spice back into their life. In terms of the movie, the action elements are far less believable and at times ridiculous. The question is – is the believability of the action scenes more important than the romance and comedy in this movie? No, it is not. The action provides for plenty of good comedy, and it keeps the movie moving along swiftly.
In terms of the overall appeal of the movie, the ridiculousness of the action plot does not matter too much. It is more fun to see how the couple reacts to the challenges set before them, and even the most serious moments have comedic elements. Perhaps very few New Jersey real estate agents would have connections with a man like Holbrooke, a suave, shirt-less man with computers that look like they were ripped out of Avatar. And perhaps very few would offer quips when they are at gun point, but the humor is funny nonetheless.
But none of this really matters, because Phil and Claire Foster seem like a real romantic couple and the surreal and ridiculous nature of their "date night" pales in comparison to the charm and believability of their relationship.
You can now purchase the Date Night DVD for yourself online or at a variety of stores.
Lisa Devoto - Lisa Devoto has professional experience as a writer, editor, and administrator for an environmental consulting firm. She has a B.A. in ...
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