DUE DATE (REVIEW)
Rated
MA 100 mins
Robert Downey Jr, Zach Galifianakis, Juliette Lewis, Michelle Monaghan,
Jamie Foxx, Danny Mcbride, Nathalie Fay.
Tasteless as this
may be, 'Due Date' turns out to be a mostly hilarious road trip, which undoubtedly
will be compared to the classic 'Planes, Trains & Automobiles'. It is not.
Robert
Downey Jr continues his magical roll of superior films in the role of Peter, an
architect returning home to Los Angeles after a business trip brought him to Atlanta.
Unlikable, neat and precise, Peter is a slightly overbearing individual, but still
appears to be a good husband wishing only to be back by his pregnant wife's side.
After two rather improper brief but fateful encounters with bearded stranger Ethan
Tremblay, the pair are put on a NO FLY list and Peter reluctantly accepts an offer
to share a rental car to drive back to L.A. Joining this unconventional journey
is Ethan's anxious fluffy dog and Ethan's late father in ashes form within a coffee
can.
The trip which should only take a few days, doesn't. The
road trip is a long one and along the way a few detours are made. Ethan is a perennial
slacker who can't keep a schedule, a dog loving slob with permed hair and a love
of medicinal herbs. Their excursion turns out to be a chain reaction of events
which makes Peter lose control, while Ethan mostly takes everything in his stride
and see's the good things around him. Juliette Lewis as Heidi, the practitioner
of exquisite substances is an absolute scene stealer. She and Downey Jr. have
worked together before in 'Natural Born Killers' and the pair share an amusing
reunion of sorts. Her special substances leads to the boys embarking on a wrong
turn inadvertently crossing the Mexican border while higher than a bald eagle.
Authorities are not amused.
Another highlight is when Peter
visits his friend, played by Jamie Foxx (another recent co-star from 'The Soloist').
This quick visit for some money turns out to be revealing in more ways than one
and gives the term strong coffee a brand new meaning. Conflicting emotions and
stories by the unlikely driving partners begin to branch out into appreciation
to one another. Would-be actor Ethan has a dream to conquer Hollywood while Peter
is desperate to see his maternal wife, the mismatch turns into mutual attachment.
Animal
lovers beware; the little dog is used to gross out in periods of vulgarness just
for the sake of it. By the time the boys and the pooch get to the Grand Canyon,
the film has lost its way. An all too abrupt finale with unanswered subplots are
the only downer in this upbeat comedy. Galifianakis is a rising star since strapping
a baby to his chest in the brilliant 'The Hangover'; however he is also a man-child
and an acquired taste that may put many viewers off.
Downey
Jr can do know wrong, ageing with zest; his comic timing is as professional as
his dramatic prowess. Look fast for a clever Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer cameo
reprising their roles from the hit television show, 'Two & a Half Men'. 'Due
date' is a road trip worth taking.
Shane A. Bassett
