On a Sunday night, we made arrangements with my sister and BIL to drop off the kids at their house for babysitting, while we two would go see a movie. For adults. Not an adult-themed movie per se, but one we could watch without worrying about diaper changes. We went to see Date Night, the new comedy starring Steve Carrell and Tina Fey.
The premise of the movie, if you haven’t heard, is that a married-with-children couple living sedentary lives in NJ suburbia until a married couple within their circle announce their upcoming separation and divorce. Shaken up, they decide to spice up the old routine weekly date nights with a trip to NYC. Beginning with a case of mistake identity, they get involved in a hectic night of hijinks.
Initially, the movie looked pretty good, and I’m a big fan of Carell and Fey. I suggested this movie to my wife, but we needed to find sitters for the kids, which is always a big pain. Also, the reviews for this movie weren’t outstanding, so I started to have my doubts. However, it’s not the movie or the meal that makes a date night for us. We’re just thrilled to spend some quality time with each other.
As for the movie, you know, it wasn’t the great comedy of 2010, but I laughed. There were some funny moments, and there were moments where the two characters actually had a realistic conversation. What I appreciated more than anything, I liked that there were more true-to-life situations. Now, I’m not talking about the car chases with corrupt cops, but I mean the down and dirty being married with kids. The awkwardness of finding time to be intimate, managing the kids, finding the romance, etc. This wasn’t a drama that focused on those concepts, but a comedy that had roots in that reality of life when you are not newlyweds, have kids, committments, etc.
Like I said — it wasn’t the greatest, but you know what? I still laughed.
Date Night (2010)