Skip to main content

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Date Night (2010)

What is it about?

A married couple afraid of becoming boring and routine, attempt to have a spontaneous and romantic evening. Instead, they end up in a case of mistaken identity that turn their date night into a thrill.

Who is in it?

Steve Carrell - Phil Foster

Tina Fey - Claire Foster

Mark Wahlberg - Holbrooke Grant

Taraji Henson - Detective Arroyo


Favorite Scene:

After the Foster's realize they need to find the real Triplehorns, Claire takes them to Holbrooke's apartment for some help. Holbrooke, in private security, does not wear a shirt, and makes Phil feel insecure. 

Favorite Quote: 

Phil Foster: [after seeing all of Holbrooke's security technology] Wow! Where'd you get all this stuff?
Holbrooke: Radio Shack.
Phil Foster: Seriously?
Holbrooke: [laughing] No, Phil, not seriously!
[to Claire]
Holbrooke: What's wrong with him? 

Phil Foster: [imitating Holbrooke in a raspy voice, talking to the dirty cops through the intercom] Hey. Hey, yo, yo. I'll be down in a minute. I'm having sex. I'm getting busy.
Holbrooke: Is that supposed to be me? Or is that, like, Fat Albert or somebody? 

Review: 

Date Night is a really fun film. It has a very unique and interesting plot that has the perfect actors in Tina Fey and Steve Carrell to portray the boring suburban couple stuck in a big city problem. The film is never boring, and never takes a scene off as it portrays the journey of the couple's night. 

What really makes Date Night a good film is it's subtle and unforced humor, that is perfected in delivery by Carrell and Fey. Some of it, surely ad-lib, was the perfect type of humor in the film. The Foster's really come off as a boring couple with boring qualities which comes out during intense moments. 

Date Night is not a blockbuster in terms if dialogue, academy award performance, or even a film to tap your imagination, but it makes up for it with simplicity in staying the course and simply being fun.

All in all, Date Night is a good movie if your looking for a good laugh and for 88 minutes to unwind.

Grade: 3/5

Recently Read

Dear Son, Big Fan of the Kid Turning Seven

---7 Years Old --- Dear Son,  It’s been a while since I’ve dropped a few thoughts. Forgive me, I’ve just been watching. Just observing. Taking it all in. Trying to be a good dad. I’m punching the keys today from one of your martial arts practices. It’s your second with “the big kids” and also the second time I’ve found myself watching from the sidelines with anxiety, with pride, and with likely my biggest fandom for you yet in this space. My feelings are much more than you playing baseball or coaching you in basketball. Your disposition is different. Your excellence is different in this space. With martial arts, you stay diligent with the process. Respectful. Working hard. Getting better. In competition with and respecting the older kids you are training with. That’s what I’ve enjoyed. It encapsulates everything you’ve grown into thus far. Still empathetic as ever, but adding an element of self-ambition and drive - something I’ve prided myself on - and to see you mature into this m...

Working in Higher Ed, Lately

"Working in higher education must be interesting these days, huh?" That question was posed to me by several people who recently learned that I worked in higher education. The recent discourse around the industry and field has certainly shifted in narrative and the overall feel within it. I recently wrapped up my fourteenth (!!) academic year. It's remarkable to think that I've been serving students and following a passion for this long. This is especially the case considering the rising turnover, the documented yearly burnout, and the increasing exodus from the field.  And, yup, there is that whole enrollment cliff combined with the politics that are more present than ever on college campuses.  So yeah, higher education is weird right now. Very weird.  Some quick thoughts : IS IT TIME?  Yes, I have thought about leaving the field several times. Especially, over the last few years. COVID didn't really bother me, but it's safe to say that the world of higher edu...

Quick Ponder: Future Self

We always think,  what would we say  to our  younger self? However,  what would  our younger self say  if they met us, today?