Due Date

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Due Date. Directed by Todd Phillips. Written by Alan R. Cohen, Alan Freedland, Adam Sztykiel & Todd Phillips. Screen story by Alan R. Cohen & Alan Freedland

100th review countdown....#89

MPAA Rating: R for language, drug use and sexual content.

Runtime: 100 min

Cast

Robert Downey Jr. - Peter Highman

Zach Galifianakis - Ethan Tremblay

Michelle Monaghan - Sarah Highman

Jamie Foxx - Darryl

Juliette Lewis - Heidi

Danny McBride - Lonnie

RZA - Airport Screener


Coming off the huge success of The Hangover. The world was ready to see what Todd Phillips could come up with before he takes on The Hangover 2. This was his attempt to continue the momentum.

He failed.

Peter Highman is a self indulgent, prissy and very angry jerk who's trying to get home in time to witness the birth of his 1st child. After an incident on the plane gets him on the no fly list, he's forced to drive to LA with the guy that got him off the plane in the first place.

This film is supposed to be The Odd Couple meets Road Trip. Instead it a mess meets another mess. The story is so all over the place that you have no idea what it's supposed to be. The characters are also transparent. Galifianakis is just playing a watered down version of his character in The Hangover and Downey jr is such a jerk that you root for him to miss the birth of his child. There are some funny moments but not enough to fill the whole film.

This is a direct result of the poorly constructed script. It is clear here that re-writes have been done here and they were not good ones. This is a common problem when you have more than 2 writers credited with writing the screenplay. It's a simple matter of too many cooks in the kitchen. Particularly when half or more of the chef's are not familiar with the original recipe.

I would elaborate further but this film doesn't deserve any more of my time.

On the 5 star scale. Due Date gets 1 star. With a split "Save the Loot" and "Netflix It" recommendation.

For a movie about a road trip it really goes nowhere and goes nowhere fast.

I know it sounds like I'm being harsh but after The Hangover's well executed presentation, I expected more from Phillips. This now gives me pause about the Hangover sequel. The positive here is that the original cast is back so that should soften the blow because this one was a straight up dud.

That's a wrap for today. Up next is Megamind to be followed by Skyline.

Until next episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"