Contributed by Joshua Chang
Phil and Claire Foster (played by Steve Carell and Tina Fey) are a typical boring New Jersey couple whose lives have fallen into a mundane routine. Their attempt to keep the passion in their marriage alive revolves around weekly date nights at the local eatery.
Disturbed by the fact that their close friends are filing for a divorce, Phil tries to spice things up by taking Claire to a trendy Manhattan seafood restaurant. Unable to get in without a reservation, they decide to pass themselves off as Mr. and Mrs. Tripplehorn.
A case of mistaken identity gives the unfortunate pair more than what they had bargained for; they are held at gun point in a back alley and pursued relentlessly by corrupt cops, good cops and mobsters.
The film defies the laws of logic from the moment the wild goose chase begins. But it is the unbelievable scenarios that inject humor into an otherwise dull script. The couple breaks into a security building and get caught in a fast-paced, bizarre and amusing car chase.
It is the chemistry between Carell and Fey that makes this movie enjoyable. The portrayal of a boring married life by this duo is so convincing that couples find themselves empathizing with the struggles of the Fosters. Director Shawn Levy explores how danger and unforeseen circumstances can reignite a marriage; how couples can discover or re-discover a side of their partners they did not know about or may have forgotten.
This is definitely an entertaining movie to watch with your spouse if you are planning for a ‘date night.’
