Due Date
Blu-ray/DVD Combo
DIRECTED BY: Todd Phillips
WRITTEN BY: Alan R. Cohen, Alan Freedland
STARRING: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galafianakis, Michelle Monaghan, Jamie Foxx, Danny McBride, RZA, Juliette Lewis
Warner Home Video
RELEASE DATE: February 22, 2011

Have you ever had to share an inordinate amount of time with a complete and total stranger? It rarely leads to a lifelong friendship, and more often than not it can become one of the more uncomfortable situations you can find yourself in.

Just such a situation develops in Due Date, the new comedy from Old School and The Hangover director Todd Phillips. The movie follows Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.), who’s on his way home to be there for the birth of his first child. Fate has other plans for Peter, however, when a couple of chance encounters with an awkward aspiring actor named Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) sees him put on the no-fly list. To make up for the incident, Ethan offers to share his rental car with Peter, and off the two strangers go.

Before long, Peter grows impatient with Ethan and realizes the strange man is simply insufferable. He attempts to ditch him a couple of times, but an unexplainable feeling of guilt for the pathetic Ethan and his little dog keeps Peter coming back…and keeps getting him into ridiculous and hilarious trouble.

Many people were excited for Due Date; the pairing of Downey Jr. and Galifianakis seemed can’t-miss and Phillips has a solid track record of delivering wildly funny comedies, especially after The Hangover scored huge numbers at the box office. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, this one just didn’t quite register with fans, and it met fair box office success (over $200 million globally on a $65 million budget) and mediocre critical reception when it reached its theatrical finish line.

I can understand where people weren’t as fond of Due Date as other Phillips titles, and I can definitely understand the disappointment of those who had such high expectations of the movie’s great cast. That said, I rather enjoyed the movie myself.

Yes, there’s no doubt Due Date is nowhere near as funny as it could have — and perhaps should have — been overall. But that doesn’t mean it’s not an entertaining movie well-worth watching at least once to decide for yourself.

Personally, I found myself laughing quite a bit at the odd couple pairing, but never hysterically. It’s really hard to fail when you’re making a road trip comedy, and there were more than a fair share of amusing moments to keep me entertained from start to finish. Downey Jr. and Galifianakis are both very good and share a lot of hilariously awkward moments.

Again, this isn’t going to be your favorite comedy of all-time and you might not even end up liking it, but it is still worth taking a peek at…especially if you’re a fan of the actors. Just keep in mind that it’s not another Hangover, so don’t go in expecting it to become one.

Overall, not only did I enjoy Due Date, but it’s one I may very well even watch again at some point in the future. Call it a guilty pleasure but this is a fun movie with actors I love, and that’s really all you need to make a film worth your time.

SPECIAL FEATURES

As far as features go, there are a few here to see but nothing too impressive. There’s some deleted scenes and a gag reel, as well as a couple more to check out. All are relatively quick and I found myself wanting more from the bonus material. There wasn’t even a nice making-of feature to enjoy.

Trailer