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Written by Gregg Shapiro
Sep 22, 2010
Tina Fey, Steve Carrell and Mark Wahlberg in "Date Night."
Date Night
(20th Century Fox)
In many ways, “Date Night” could have gone as wrong as the evening does in the movie. We’ve seen it happen before in big fish out of water fare like “Did You Hear About The Morgans?” with Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant. But to the credit of comedic co-stars Tina Fey and Steve Carell, as Claire and Phil Foster, the flick clicks. Their comic chemistry warms the screen.
Resigned to life as suburban New Jersey dwellers with a couple of undisciplined children, tax lawyer Phil (Carell) and real estate agent Claire (Fey) do what they can to keep the spark in their marriage. Date night in Manhattan is one such thing. They show up at a trendy hot spot without a reservation, where the host disses them. The Fosters get even by taking an unresponsive patron’s reservation. Little do they know that assuming the Tripplehorn’s identities will take them places they never imagined.
First they are escorted to the alley behind the restaurant by a pair of goons inquiring about a stolen flash drive belonging to a ruthless mobster (an uncredited Ray Liotta). Escaping from the clutches of the thugs, the couple heads to the police station to file a report with Detective Arroyo (Taraji P. Henson). Once there, they discover that the goons they evaded are actually cops.
On the run again, Phil and Claire meet up with a former real estate client of Claire’s, government tech whiz Holbrooke (a shirtless and fit Mark Wahlberg), who kindly offers some assistance. Eventually they find the real Tripplehorns, Taste and Whippit (James Franco and Mila Kunis), who reveal the contents of the flash drive and then pass it off to them.
From there, “Date Night” turns into a fright night of car chases and crashes, sleazy strip clubs, sexually freaky politicians and return visits to Holbrooke (yum!). Ultimately, the date night-mare misadventures provide just the fix the Fosters need for their marriage. Watching them get there is more than half the fun. Special features on the extended edition DVD include both the theatrical and extended version of the movie, director Shawn Levy’s audio commentary, alternate scenes, gag reel and much more.
Solitary Man
(Anchor Bay Entertainment)
Michael Douglas gives his best and most nuanced performance since “Wonder Boys” as Ben Kalmen in “Solitary Man.” Profitable and respected Manhattan car dealer Ben gets a shock when his doctor tells him that he “doesn’t love” the results of Ben’s EKG during a routine check-up. Ben tunes out and then proceeds to sabotage his life.
Fast forward six and a half years to the present. Skirt-chasing and low-dose aspirin-popping Ben is divorced from wife Nancy (Susan Sarandon). His relationship with daughter Susan (Jenna Fischer) is strained at best, although grandson Scotty (Jake Siciliano) thinks the world of him.
Ben’s girlfriend Jordan (Mary Louise Parker) is helping him get back on his feet, following his near ruination involving a scam and a substantial fine. But when Jordan is too ill to accompany her daughter on her college interview in Boston, Ben is enlisted. The results are disastrous: Ben and Allison sleep together. When Allison tells her mother, the rug is pulled out from under Ben’s plans.
But a couple of good things happen to Ben while he is on the campus that has a library named after him. He reconnects with old friend Jimmy (a restrained Danny DeVito), who owns a deli near the school. He provides Ben with a place to stay and a job when things go south in New York. Ben also meets college student Daniel (Jesse Eisenberg). Ben takes him under his wing, but ends up learning much more from the young man than he ever expected.
A thoroughly charming film, “Solitary Man” makes for good company. DVD special features include audio commentary by writer/co-director Brian Koppelman and co-director David Levien and the featurette “Solitary Man: Alone In A Crowd.”
