Pretend for a moment that you haven’t seen last year’s explosive hit “The Hangover,” and that you are approaching “Due Date” with an open mind. From the trailer, we know that two men get on a plane, then somehow appear in a rental car, and ultimately end up somewhere near the Grand Canyon. But will they arrive home in time?! It’s a very funny premise, which is unfortunate for the audience, as we are once again tricked into seeing a mediocre movie where all the gags are given away in the 90-second preview.
In the full 95-minute version, Robert Downey Jr. is seemingly stuck with Zach Galifianakis for a cross-country road trip. Peter Highman (Downey) is an architect whose wife is expecting the birth of their first child in just a few days. Ethan Tremblay (Galifianakis) is a young would-be starl heading to Hollywood for his big break, and a meeting with a huge talent agent. The two make quite a pair, with Peter’s need to control each and every situation, and Ethan’s knack to say something inappropriate at just the right time.
Downey’s performance as Peter Highman was dark and richly funny, and the physical comedy was more believable than slapstick. Additionally, Galifianakis walks the thin line between overtly homosexual and purely strange perfectly. The characters the two men create breathe life into the production, and this is where most of the success of this film comes from.
The cameos from experienced comedy veterans like Jamie Foxx and Danny McBride play well, but ultimately the script feels bland and increasingly improbable. There are, however, some really phenomenal dramatic moments for Galifianakis, which redeem some of the movie’s more tedious driving sequences.
So, my suggestion? Instead of running out to the theater to see “Due Date,” rent an old copy of “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles”. It’s a classic buddy-traveler comedy, starring Steven Martin and John Candy, and it serves as a funnier example of Murphy’s Law on the road.
Purchase a small desk calendar, and count down the days until “The Hangover 2”. Of course, college students love Galifianakis’ offbeat humor and wild characters, so I am confident that most of you will still flock to the theatres in droves.
But that’s OK, I’ll be right in line with you.
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