"Due date"- An unexpectedly fun movie to watch
Due date
Movie review: Due date (2010 release)
Synopsis
" High-strung father-to-be Peter Highman is forced to hitch a ride with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay on a road trip in order to make it to his child's birth on time." (from The Internet movie database: imdb)
Writer's breakdown
Due date starring Robert Downey Jr.(as Peter Highman) , Zach Galifianakis (as Ethan Tremblay), Jamie Foxx and Michelle Monaghan, the comedy was predicted to be a hit in the summer of 2010. In retrospect,did it fulfill this tall order? A look at some key aspects of the movie should leave you leaning on one side of the fence or the other.
Director Todd Phillips (also directed Old School starring Jack Black and Hangover starring Zack Galifianakis) brings with him his sense of humour and experience in direction. This is evident in the comic timing that Robert Downey Jr. and Zack Galifiniakis have. The two actors have their own unique qualities and these are exploited to give dramatic tension which leads to a good platform for humour. There is no doubt,Todd Phillips directorial hand/mind left its stamp mark on the movie.The humour is quirky and totally unexpected.Downey and Galifianikis play their roles well to complement the quirkiness.
The talented Comedian/singer/actor (Stunning performance in the movie about Ray Charles: Ray) plays Downeys longtime friend,bringing to the movie a bunch of misconceptions, a worthy platform for Zack to exercise his wacky mind.
The edge : The story line (Written by Alan.R.Cohen (screenplay) and Alan Freedland(screenplay) and Adam Sztykiel with Todd Phillips) nudges at those things that make us uncomfortable,be it personal body humour or sacred stuff like the dealing with death. This brings with it,shock value along with that awkward feeling you get after laughing at somethinmg that is morally wrong.
Conclusion : Due Date is for those who like to break away and have a quirky boyish sense of humour. It is really a silly movie (I mean that in the best possible way) so if guy talk/attitude disgusts you, Due Date might not be the movie for you.
Because of this lack of universal appeal,I think the movie becomes a "love it or hate it affair". I am all up for a little silliness from time to time.It made me laugh outloud in parts,look out for the part where Zack does the Godfather impression while Downey baby sits two kids-also sometihng of a surprise happens there.
Rating 7/10. It is rated with a 6/10 on IMdb and 5.2/10 on Rotten Tomatoes
