Iffy for 14+
Funny duo packs in the silly sex jokes, plus minor gun play.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this farcical comedy, filled with the kind of pratfalls, comic car chases, and silly humor of Tina Fey and Steve Carell that appeal to teens, is geared more toward adults. It contains sexual innuendo and coarse languagethroughout, plus mature themes related to married life, and episodes of violence and gunplay -- all played for humor. Onelong sequence takes place in a strip club and includes near-nude women,suggestive dancing, and the threat of violent behavior. There aremultiple discussions of menstruation, infidelity, and sexualmisbehavior. Strong language abounds ("asshole," "s--t," "penis,""whore" and one use of "f--k"). The leading characters are held at gunpoint andshot at many times, however, it's all comedic action and no one isinjured or killed. One comic car chase results in dozens of crashes,shattered windows, a character hanging onto carhood, and a main character ending up in a river, unharmed.
- Families can talk about danger and violence in the movie. Did you ever feel that the main characters were in serious jeopardy? What tools did the filmmakers use to show that it was all in fun and there was no real danger?
- The movie had lots of sexual humor. How was the humor different from other movies where sex plays a prominent role? Did the fact that some of the sex jokes involved married people make them more or less funny? Why or why not?
- What did the Fosters learn about themselves during their adventure? How did they surprise each other?
- Would it surprise you to learn that the pole dancing scene was neitherscripted nor rehearsed? Describe "improvisation" and talk about otherinstances in movies and on television where the material might havebeen improvised.
The good stuff
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Messages: The ultimate message is one that reinforces the positive aspects of a traditional marriage and the monogamous relationship, despite their many challenges, including monotony, irksome behavior, and even temptation. The husband says he does things he doesn't like because that's part of marriage and it's important to him to make his wife happy. Also, he asks his wife to trust more of the day-to-day household management to him and release some of her resentments. Through the ordeal, they are able to see one another in a new light and rekindle their affection.
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Role models: The main characters are in love and seem to be good parents, but are also reckless, bumblingincompetents in the face of extraordinary circumstances. They lie,steal, and break into a store under extreme duress. Lawenforcement officers are either honorable good guys, or corruptvillains.
What to watch for
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Violence: Lots of action with characters held at gunpoint, heavy gunfire, anddangerous gangsters. The hero and heroine are constantly on the run,captured and menaced by two or more very bad guys. A lengthy car chaseresults in huge numbers of car crashes. All of the action, however, isintended to be comedic with no real threat ofinjury or death.
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Sex: A very long sequence takes place in a strip club with women in variousstates of undress (no actual nudity), sexual posing, dancing, andcavorting with customers. A pole dance scene is played strictly forlaughs. There is some kissing and embracing between couples, but noovert sexual activity. Lots of sexual innuendo throughout, including repeated scenes with a shirtless Mark Wahlberg, and discussion about the possibility of group sex. The final shot finds a marriedcouple, fully clothed, embracing and rolling together in the grass.
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Language: Language is coarse throughout, including one use of "f--k," and several uses of: "s--t," "vagina," dumbass," "pissed," and "asshole." Repeateduse of "penis," "bitch," "whore," "whacked off," etc. Many uses of "God" and "Goddamn" as exclamations. There are sexualinnuendos from beginning to end, all intended as humor. Several references to menstruation.
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Consumerism: Kindle has a major product placement in one short scene. In another scene a bus stop ad features Dentyne gum prominently. Some fancy cars. Brief references to Radio Shack and Diet Sprite.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Wine is served with meals and in one scene the couple gets fairly tipsy and goofy. There are scenes in both a cocktail bar anda strip club which show many people drinking. One mention of the drug "nitrous" referring to a girl nicknamed "Whip-It."
Fan Reviews provided by
4
Totally agree with carNtire.... by lovestalentmoviefan
.....movie was fine until strip club and perverse politician. I will say go instead of average for Steve Carrell. The man knows comic timing and always is entertaining. Not rolling in the aisles funny,just enjoyable. Please look for carNtires review. It says it all,regarding the stupidity and dumming down of decent material to appease those who always need smutty material to call something good. I wish there was just plain more class in America.
4
Would have said Must Go if they could have left the strip club out. by LTMF 2
And I really want to! Date Night is witty funny,silly funny, and relatable. Carrell and Fey are such naturals in their art. I just hate that so many good movies have to have a strip club scene. Yes,they did make it comedic for the main stars,but other unneeded dancers,and the politician being so ...yuck..just really bugged me. Same thing could have been accomplished another way-perhaps the pol having 'escorts brought to a hotel room or something.Or a drug problem or bribery. Something without ****. Good Comedy though.I saw it twice!
4
Date Night: Not a Must Go, but definitely a Go by unlvraptor
The Fosters, played by Steve Carrell and Tina Fey (both great comedians in their own right), are your typical family couple, they have two young children and they work hard to provide a great life for them. Steve Carrell plays an accountant and Tina Fey plays a real estate agent. Like many couples, they have a "date night" where they typically go to a family restaurant and usually order the same meal. The couple finds out that two of their best friends, also a married couple, are splitting up because they feel they have just turned out to be "really great roommates." Afraid of turning into the couple that is splitting up, Fey and Carrell try to spice things up by going to a snooty seafood restaurant in Manhattan. Of course there's no reservations available, so Carrell has the idea of taking some other couple's reservation. That one small act turns into a zany adventure with crooked cops, exotic dancers, & car chases. Go for laughs and action and root for this unbeatable comedic duo.
5
Date Night by nickbacon
An otherwise clichéed storyline is transformed by Tina Fey and Steve Carrel into a "Must see" movie. Their comic timing is superb and the chemistry between them coupled with their improvisation skills and experience enables them to work well off each other's performance.
It was way better than "Mr & Mrs Smith" with more laughs and better acting.
4
Five Word Review by redyeah
pretty funny, believable comedic pair
4
Great fun, would have been even better without the gratuitous ****. by carNtire
Overall, this movie was great fun. Despite so-so reviews from snooty critics, we "average American," real-life married folk found it to be highly entertaining. The audience was laughing out loud throughout the film.
My only criticism is the same I have for many other films: It is full of unnecessary bad language and sexual content.
This movie is funny all by itself. It just doesn't need all the foul language and perverse content. It could have been equally funny without it. Nobody would have missed it. Nobody would have complained. I just don't get why Hollywood continues to throw swearing, potty language, anatomy lessons and X-rated themes into PG-13 films. Seriously, their target market here isn't 13-year-old boys. I'm baffled.
I enjoyed the film, but had to work hard to overlook the unsavory language and content. I didn't mind too much until the movie went into a strip club toward the end and, I felt, hit the wall. Fun movie, but fans deserved better treatment
4
Glad I have learned to separate my politics from enjoying good flicks! by birac
Watching Carrell and Fey together is just plain good. They even handled the more serious moments extremely well. Didn't think Fey was that good. I was wrong. When hubby didn't notice her being dressed up for a minute,the look in her eyes..all the girls around me were all sad for her! She did something right in that nano moment. This is one of those movies that,if it had lesser leads,would have been 'alright'. Good premise,fun jokes and stellar perfs. Thought out storylines,so not too many holes. Franco and Kunis were just as magic together. Probably will see again,just for that scene. Also enjoyed the original take on the obligatory car chase.Falling into the same ol',same ol' and unnecessary slime of strip club is the only facet preventing my MUST GO. Recommend.
4
Surpising - Funny by Robert_Ansley
It really surprised us. We were thinking cheesy, but it worked. We don't watch trailers on purpose because they give away so many good parts. We were happy to see some big name actors appear in the movie. It's the bumbling detective story, but the main characters are not stupidly bumbling like in Pink Panther, but everyday me or you could be there bumbling. Go see it! I doubt anyone will read my review since the spammers at one particular website has taken over. I hope and pray Fandango will stop them!
4
Great Light Comedy Romance by SoFlorida_Mom
We went to see this movie last minute, not knowing what to expect. My In-Laws recommended it (in their late 70's).
This movie was so funny, good story line and acting. A plus for us middle aged people and parents who could relate to making time for a "date night".
A fun movie and a little on the trashy side on a couple of scenes. I would not recommend for a pre-teen or very young teenager.
5
Way better than expected!!! by try2scareme
I walked in thinking it would be some cheesy date movie where something dumb goes wrong. To my surprise it was very thrilling and I highly recommend it to teens and older. It is shocking, funny, and and definitely a nice twist to the regular old date movies.