Director Todd Phillips is known for his raunchy, rated R movies (Road Trip, Old School, The Hangover). Though Due Date is not as filthy as his other movies, it is still vulgar, a little dirty, and absolutely hilarious. He pairs up two talented actors who come from two different planets—Robert Downey, Jr. and Zach Galifianakis. These two have terrific comic chemistry and since the story is thin, it is up to them to carry this movie through and they do it with flying colors.
Peter (Downey) is an architect and a father-to-be who is heading back home to Los Angeles from Atlanta to be with his wife (played by Michelle Monaghan) who is going to give birth to his first child any day. Everything seems to be right on schedule until he runs in to Ethan Tremblay (Galifianakis). Ethan gets himself and Peter in to trouble on the plane which gets them kicked off. This leaves both of them having to ride with each other (Ethan is all for it while Peter is practically being forced) so Peter does not miss the birth of his child. Let the road trip from hell begin.
During Peter and Ethan’s adventure, there is the purchase of drugs, an ass-kicking from a Western Union employee (Danny McBride), and catching up with Peter’s old friend (Jamie Foxx) who is also close to Peter’s wife. Possibly too close for comfort. There are also great running gags involving Ethan’s dog who copies his master a little too much. And Peter’s dead father’s ashes in a coffee can, which we know how that turns out.
This movie is more than just a few funny moments. You will be laughing throughout the entire thing with a few sentimental moments thrown in there to count as heartwarming scenes. We have all become witnesses to how funny Galifianakis can be. It was Phillips who gave him his breakout role in The Hangover. His character Ethan is odd. Really odd. He is an aspiring actor who does not have a clue and does more damage than good. Yet he is also a guy with good intentions and is dealing with the death of his father. Galifianakis gets crazy but it fits right in with the movie’s mayhem. There are signs of the Galifianakis from The Hangover in this and while he is ridiculous, he is always entertaining.
Everyone knew Galifianakis would be the amusing character who would get all of the laughs, but where did RDJ fit in to all of this? Downey is excellent to have in any movie, but his character seemed to be the straight-faced, uptight guy who had to play it serious the whole time. While Peter has those characteristics, he gets to have fun as well. There is a scene where Peter gets in a fight with a kid that will take you by surprise but will make you laugh out loud. Of course, most of the laughs simply come from the back-and-forth between Peter and Ethan. And it is all credited to the talent and intelligence of Downey and Galifianakis.
Due Date isn’t this year’s The Hangover and next year’s The Hangover will be its sequel. However, the movie has a lot to offer when it comes to comedy and giving audiences something to laugh at or with. I do not think Phillips, Downey or Galifianakis care just as long as you laugh. And you will. A lot. Guaranteed.
“Nature Boy” Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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