‘Due Date’

Director: Todd Phillips

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis

1.5/5 popcorns

The hilarious interactions of lifelong friends have become the trademark of ‘Due Date’ director Todd Phillips, whose ‘Old School’ (2003) and ‘The Hangover’ (2009) stand as minor landmarks in the last 10 years of comedy.

Phillips is familiar with depicting men who are comfortable with each other and is an expert at torturing these seemingly grounded adult males to reveal their latent, animalistic natures.

Most directors would find it easy to glean hilarity from the pairing of an irritable, expectant father and an annoying, effeminate actor. But the odd couple dynamic simply doesn’t work for Phillips. These men are not comfortable with one another. Where a more versatile filmmaker could have harnessed the humor more effectively, Phillips is just as lost as the misguided travelers he depicts.

Traveling home to Los Angeles to witness the birth of his child, Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) is removed from his flight when another passenger, aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis), incidentally forces him to say ‘terrorist.’ Ethan then offers him a ride as consolation for his actions on the plane. Ethan soon proves to be intolerable, probing deeply into Peter’s personal life while occasionally making minor driving mistakes, such as falling asleep at the wheel and flipping off the interstate.

Despite inciting ordeals with law enforcement, hospitals and marijuana, Peter cannot abandon Ethan, who manages to endear himself to Peter at just the right moments. Recognizing that he has much more going for him than Ethan, Peter is willing to let him tag along, well aware of the damage he is capable of causing.

Virtually identical to ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ (1981), the classic road trip comedy starring Steve Martin and John Candy, the film’s failure to honor its predecessor is just one indication of its shortcomings. Though occasionally hilarious, the film hardly scratches the surface of its potential, inexcusably wasting the talent of its stars.

Downey Jr. and Galifianakis are two of the finest comedic performers in their own right, yet neither suits his character in the film. While great in just about any role,

Downey Jr. is more intolerable than Galifianakis, as his serious attitude does not suit his personality. He is a very good dramatic actor and his performance is far from mediocre, but unless he’s acting in a serious production, Downey Jr.’s high-strung, straight-man act is simply aggravating.

Similarly, Galifianakis is at his best when acting somewhat normal than shocking the audience with a wry yet uproarious comment. Flamboyant Galifianakis and irritable Downey Jr. work together about as well as their characters, which becomes very frustrating as the film wears on.

The film’s tagline, ‘Leave your comfort zone,’ is apt in all the wrong ways. It is great to see talented actors and filmmakers experimenting with new angles, but none of the film’s headliners succeed in their endeavor. Phillips fails at satisfactorily humanizing the characters that by the end, they are both detestable. Where the late John Hughes managed to get his audience to identify with both Martin and Candy in ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles,’ Downey Jr. and Galifianakis are simply too unlikable.

It is hard not to enjoy a film Downey Jr. and Galifianakis star in, which makes the film all the more disappointing. The entertaining nature of the two stars makes the action gripping, but the film itself is just too shallow.

smlittma@syr.edu

Published on November 10, 2010 at 12:00 pm