Most of the reviews for this movie have focused on the pedestrian plot line and some of the predictable formulaic comedy (reminiscent of “The Out-of-Towners”) and not on the performance of the comics or the fact that this is a rare comedy NOT skewed for younger or thirty-something audiences. At one point, Ms. Fey states, “Don’t judge me…What is a flash drive?”
At this point, we realize why some audiences/reviewers will not “get” this movie. The old-fashioned idea of a “date night” is almost quaint by today’s standards. This is a comedy for baby boomers. It is made for those of us who are “of a certain age.”
For that reason alone, baby boomers should identify with this movie. The idea of a married couple wanting to make their marriage work and working at it by going out on the town on a “date” is a hilariously quaint notion in some quarters. That is what makes a lot of Steve Carrell’s films work. The fact that he starts from the point of view that he is “square” and not hip. He is everyman to a lot of people and that is something that is lacking in a lot of film stars today. It’s the same quality- the quality of connecting- that comes through in Tom Hanks movies. Date Night is a light comedy and it is not for everyone. But if you like this kind of comedy, it may tell you something about who you are. And that is not necessarily a bad thing.
Six Degrees of Film 