DUE DATE (2010)
Starring Robert Downey Jnr and Zach Galifianakis
Directed by Todd Phillips
Todd Phillips and Zach Galifianakis reunite alongside Hollywood's iron man, Robert Downey Jnr in a tale about two men and dog travelling across the States to get home in time for the birth of Peter Highman's (Downey Jnr) child and as one can expect from a Phillips film, not everything goes to plan.
These two starkly different characters are forced together when Peter is thrown off a flight bound for his home in LA leaves him unable to get home alone. Desperate to get home, Peter is forced to accept a lift home from eccentric, jobless actor Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) despite the fact that the clueless Tremblay is the whole reason he's left stranded at Atlanta Airport.
Robert Downey Jnr stands out in a role very different to any he's played previously unlike Galifianakis' Ethan Tremblay who resembles the character he played in The Hangover too much for my liking. But Downey Jnr's cold and conservative Peter Highman is hilarious and while unlikeable, is completely relatable.
While comparisons can be made to both The Hangover, in style, and the plot from John Hughes' Planes, Trains and Automobiles - Due Date is more satisfying and is arguably on par with Phillips' 2009 hit. While the humour isn't quite as naturally contrived as The Hangover, the plot has more premise and the touching moments towards the end of the film leaves you with that fuzzy feeling. And in an age where absurd comedy is extremely popular, this film is a perfect example of why this style of comedy is in right now.
While it may not have received the critical acclaim it deserves, this movie is worth a watch, particular if your a fan of Phillips' style.
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