"Due Date" with Robert Downey Jr and Zach Galifinakis - Quick Movie Review



Last night, while celebrating our 18th wedding anniversary, I took my wife to see "Due Date", starring Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifinakis.  We had seen the ad for this movie weeks ago, and it was one of the few things I can recall recently that we immediately both wanted to see, mainly because of the cast.  We're big fans of both of these actors, and I was anxious to see their onscreen comedic chemistry together."Due Date" met and exceeded my expectations, which were high.


I really enjoyed both of these guys and their performances. Robert Downey Jr. is one of the most natural actors around, in my opinion.  When I'm watching him, I usually forget that it's even a performance.  He also strikes me as someone who is highly intelligent, despite any personal mistakes he has made over the years.  He's likable and funny, even when he's being sarcastic.


Zach Galifinakis is one of those people who can make you laugh just by looking at him (and I mean that in the nicest possible way). He seems to have an interesting blend of vulnerability and confidence that makes him a terrific "everyman" comic.  My wife and I have mentioned several times that we're very happy that he became famous - I've enjoyed his stand-up comedy for years.  You may remember Zach as the overweight bearded brother-in-law in "The Hangover".


The premise is straightforward here - it's a little bit like a modern day "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles". Through a series of weird misunderstandings, both guys end up on the "No Fly" list and are forced to travel across the country in a rented car together, although they are complete strangers.


Although they use a large dose of comedy, there are touching moments throughout, as Galifinakis has just lost his father and Downey is trying to get home to witness the birth of his first child.


I won't give away any of the big-time jokes here, but a few of the scenes made me laugh so hard that milk would have come out of my nose, had I been drinking milk.  :)  Some of them made me laugh again today.


I found myself rooting for these guys, even when they were breaking the law, or getting injured, or just generally being stupid.  The character development was really well done, which is tough to pull off in a "buddy" comedy.  Downey's character is a no-nonsense architect who is at least moderately wealthy, and Galifinakis' is a dowdy, unfashionable, somewhat effeminate lonely guy with a heart of gold.


I would highly recommend seeing this one in the theater (if you get out) or via Netflix/rental/cable (if you don't).  Either way, it provided some solid laughs and I would happily see it again.  For me to say that is a big deal, because I'm rarely interested in watching movies more than once, unless they're classics.


Don't miss this one if you have a chance.  It's well worth the time.  It's a solid "R" for language, drug use, and generally raunchy comedy, so it's definitely not kid-friendly.


Thanks for reading!



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