DUE DATE (2010)

Directed By: Todd Phillips
Written By: Alan Freedland, Alan R. Cohen, Adam Sztyikel & Todd Phillips
Story By: Alan Freedland & Alan R. Cohen
Cinematography By: Lawrence Sher
Editor: Debra Neil-Fisher

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galafanakis, Juliette Lewis, Jamie Foxx, Danny McBride, Michelle Monaghan, RZA, Matt Walsh, Brody Stevens


While i will not lie and say I didn’t laugh at all the laughs I did have were few and far in between.

Looking at Todd Phillips previous films it is obvious he enjoys making films that take place during road trips In fact it was the title of one of his first films. This is a journey I could have skipped. it’s almost like a updated version of PLANES TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES only more raunchy and with a lot less heart.

The film takes place as Robert Downey Jr. playing the straight man travels home to be with his wife who is about to give birth but he is thwarted in his attempt to catch a flight by Zach Galafanakis’s character the two then decide to drive to California together since they both are needed there. Of course the trip becomes hellish as each stop promises more hell and hijinks then anything.

The film doesn’t succeed as much as it thinks it will, from the two characters from vastly different backgrounds clash. The yuppie played by Robert Downey Jr. clashing with the man boy of Zach Galafankis. Which could have worked but the problem is that Galafanakis’s character is so annoying there is no way anyone could have put upwith him and his ways believably. Which then really speaks to the plausibility of what we are watching. His is so unlikeable but we are supposed to fall for his cuddly tendencies. Which makes no sense as much of the movie seems to be the two stars riffing like jazz musicians (Bad Ones), While some cameos by other actors come and go. A lot of the film just seems made up on the go. While other scenes seem planned out to shake up the audience with some action finally.

I wanted to enjoy the film more then I did, as I enjoy the performers involved but the film feels lazy. Like they felt that if they got the audience to pay to see the movie they could make anything up and the audience would be happy. Robert Downey Jr. can escape the film unscathed, Zach Galafanakis’s role could have been played by any comedian he just seems to be there to fill out the weirdness with his cuddly bear like looks and gaze.

Director Todd Phillips is in the film as his character Barry the pervert, along with Juliette Lewis who seems to be reprising her role from OLD SCHOOL or really any of the roles she has played in previous Todd Phillips comedies. While she is welcome and nice to see in the movie like most of the appearances by funny actors. It goes nowhere and seemed funnier as a idea then in actual execution.


GRADE: D+