Date Night

''Date Night'' is a 2010 American romantic action comedy film directed by Shawn Levy and written by Josh Klausner. The film stars Steve Carell and Tina Fey as a suburban couple whose attempt to reignite their marriage with a night out in New York City leads to a case of mistaken identity and an escalating series of comedic and dangerous encounters. The film also features Taraji P. Henson, Common, and Mark Wahlberg in supporting roles.

''Date Night'' premiered in New York City on April 6, 2010, and was released theatrically in the United States on April 9, 2010, by 20th Century Fox. ''Date Night'' received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for the chemistry between Carell and Fey, though its plot received some criticism. The film emerged as a commercial success at the box office, grossing $152.3 million worldwide against a production budget of $55 million.

Plot

Phil and Claire Foster are a married couple from New Jersey with two children. Over time, their domestic life has become predictable and routine, leaving their relationship feeling stagnant. Phil, a tax lawyer, and Claire, a realtor, lead busy lives, and even their weekly date nights have become monotonous. The couple is spurred to reignite their romance after discovering that their close friends, Brad and Haley, are divorcing to escape the monotony of married life in search of more excitement.

In an effort to break from their routine, Phil suggests taking Claire to a trendy Manhattan restaurant. However, when they arrive, they are unable to get a reservation. Impulsively, Phil takes a reservation under the name of a no-show couple, the "Tripplehorns", despite Claire's reservations. Their night takes a sudden turn when they are approached by two men, Collins and Armstrong, who mistake them for the real Tripplehorns and demand a flash drive that they believe the Fosters have stolen from mob boss Joe Miletto. Phil and Claire try to explain the misunderstanding, but the men, armed and threatening, don’t believe them. Under pressure, Phil falsely claims the flash drive is hidden in a boathouse in Central Park.

At the boathouse, Claire distracts Collins and Armstrong while Phil strikes them with a paddle, and the couple escapes by boat. Desperate for help, they go to a police station, but they soon discover that Collins and Armstrong are corrupt NYPD detectives on Miletto’s payroll. Realizing they can't trust the police, Phil and Claire resolve to find the real Tripplehorns themselves. They return to the restaurant and find the phone number of the actual Tripplehorns.

Claire remembers a former client, Holbrooke Grant, a high-tech security expert and action hero. At his apartment, Grant traces the Tripplehorns' phone to an apartment owned by a man named Thomas Felton. Collins and Armstrong arrive, but Phil and Claire escape in Grant’s Audi R8.

They locate Felton, who goes by the alias "Taste", and his wife, "Whippit". The couple confesses that they had fled the restaurant after spotting Collins and Armstrong. Felton hands over the flash drive, which contains incriminating photos of District Attorney Frank Crenshaw with prostitutes, meant to blackmail him. With the flash drive in hand, Phil and Claire are pursued by Collins and Armstrong, leading to a wild car chase involving a Ford Crown Victoria taxicab attached to their Audi at the bumpers. After several close calls, they crash into a river, escaping with their lives but losing the flash drive.

On the subway, Phil deduces that Felton was using the flash drive to blackmail Crenshaw. They return to Grant's apartment, and though initially hesitant, Grant agrees to help them. Phil and Claire head to an illegal strip club that Crenshaw frequents. Claire poses as a new dancer while Phil pretends to be her pimp. After a tense encounter with Crenshaw, they confront him about the flash drive.

Just as Collins, Armstrong, and Miletto arrive, a confrontation ensues. Phil cleverly manipulates the situation by mentioning the compromising photos, leading to an argument between Crenshaw and Miletto. As tensions rise, Claire begins counting to three, a technique she uses to calm their children. At "three," a helicopter arrives, and Detective Arroyo, along with a SWAT team, swoops in to arrest Miletto, Crenshaw, Collins, and Armstrong. Arroyo reveals that Grant had tipped her off and that Phil had been wearing a wire.

The Fosters are hailed as heroes. They share a quiet breakfast at a diner, where Phil expresses his love for Claire, stating that if he had the chance, he would marry her and have their children all over again. The film ends with the couple rekindling their passion, kissing in their front yard, and lying down to watch the sky together.

Cast

Production

Filming for ''Date Night'' commenced in mid-April 2009, with principal photography taking place in New York City, Los Angeles, and Pasadena. Director Shawn Levy drew inspiration from his own experiences with routine date nights, aiming to explore how a single spontaneous decision could lead to an extraordinary series of events.

The film features a notable ensemble cast of Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg, Taraji P. Henson, Common, Jimmi Simpson, and William Fichtner. Cinematography was handled by Dean Semler, and the musical score was composed by Christophe Beck. The production was a collaboration between 20th Century Fox, 21 Laps Entertainment, and RatPac Entertainment.

Soundtrack

Confirmed songs for the soundtrack are listed below:

* " Blitzkrieg Bop" by The Ramones
* " Burn It to the Ground" by Nickelback
* "Love Gun" by Cee-Lo Green featuring Lauren Bennett
* " Heartbreak Warfare" by John Mayer
* " Cobrastyle" by Teddybears featuring Mad Cobra
* "Why Me" by Margie Balter
* "Date Night Blues" by The Rave-Ups
* "French Connection" by Solar Budd
* "I'll Never Dream" by Kaskade
* "Moving On" by Morgan Page
* "Fresh Groove" by Muddy Funksters
* "I Want'a Do Something Freaky to You" by Leon Haywood
* "Sex Slave Ship" by Flying Lotus
* "God Created Woman" by A. B. O'Neill
* "Elephant" by Spiral System
* "Production" by Lemonworks
* "Something Bigger, Something Better" by Amanda Blank
* "Stone" by Terry Lynn
* " (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" by Jackie Wilson

Reception

Box office

''Date Night'' opened to a strong debut, initially reported to have grossed $27.1 million in its opening weekend, narrowly surpassing ''Clash of the Titans'' by approximately $200,000. However, a recount later adjusted the totals, with ''Clash of the Titans'' retaining the top spot with $26.6 million, while ''Date Night'' officially opened in second place with $25.2 million. The film went on to earn $98.7 million in the United States and Canada, and $53.6 million in international markets, for a worldwide total of $152.3 million.

Critical response

''Date Night'' received mixed reviews from critics, with particular praise for the chemistry between leads Steve Carell and Tina Fey.

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, ''Date Night'' holds an approval rating of 67%, based on 232 reviews, with an average rating of 6.10/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "An uneasy blend of action and comedy, Date Night doesn't quite live up to the talents of its two leads, but Steve Carell and Tina Fey still manage to shine through most of the movie's flaws." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 56 out of 100, based on 37 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews." Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.

Film critic Roger Ebert awarded the film 3.5 stars, writing: "If you don't start out liking the Fosters and hoping they have a really nice date night, not much else is going to work." Jim Vejvoda of ''IGN'' rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, commenting that while ''Date Night'' "suggests a lot of comedic possibilities," it ultimately "falls short in fully capitalizing on them" but "still manages to be a lot of fun."

Peter Bradshaw of ''The Guardian'' likened their pairing to "the comedy equivalent of teaming Spencer Tracy with Katharine Hepburn," noting that while the film isn't their best work, it remains an entertaining caper with droll cameos and lively moments. James Berardinelli of ''ReelViews'' highlighted the tangible chemistry between Carell and Fey, stating that their interaction elevates the film above similar action-comedy hybrids. He observed that while the action elements are obligatory, the stars' performances make the movie tolerable.

In his review for ''The New York Times'', A. O. Scott commended the chemistry between Carell and Fey, noting that their performances brought authenticity to the film's portrayal of a married couple's misadventures. He remarked that the duo's comedic timing and rapport added depth to the narrative, elevating it beyond a typical action-comedy. Scott also highlighted the film's ability to balance humor with moments of genuine emotion, making it relatable to audiences.

However, not all reviews were favorable. Nick Schager of ''Slant Magazine'' criticized the film's reliance on noise and commotion, describing the direction as "slapdash and stolid." He felt that the material was lacking, with the story dealing with marital issues in a contrived manner. Chris Hewitt of ''Empire'' acknowledged the likability of Carell and Fey but found the film formulaic, suggesting it would be more suitable for in-flight entertainment. He noted that while the leads work hard, the movie lacks rhythm and could have been snappier.

The ''Washburn Review'' pointed out that while the plot is basic and occasionally corny, the collaborative efforts of the cast, including numerous cameos, help keep the film mildly entertaining. However, it was noted that the movie primarily resonates with a married demographic, potentially limiting its broader appeal.

Awards and nominations

Home media

''Date Night'' was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 10, 2010.Date Night – DVD Sales
The Numbers The DVD offers both the theatrical version (88 minutes) and the extended version (101 minutes) of the film, along with alternate scenes, two featurettes, public service announcements, and a gag reel.

See also

* 2010 in film
* Cinema of the United States
* List of American films of 2010

References

External links

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{{Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Comedy

2010 films
2010 romantic comedy films
2010s chase films
2010 crime comedy films
2010s English-language films
2010s screwball comedy films
20th Century Fox films
Regency Enterprises films
21 Laps Entertainment films
American chase films
American crime comedy films
American romantic comedy films
American screwball comedy films
Dune Entertainment films
Films directed by Shawn Levy
Films produced by Shawn Levy
Films scored by Christophe Beck
Films set in New Jersey
Films set in New York City
Films shot in Los Angeles
Films shot in New York City
Films with screenplays by Josh Klausner
Romantic crime films
2010s American films
English-language crime comedy films
English-language romantic comedy films
English-language action thriller films
Teen Choice Award winning films