The first thing the audience will think is ‘what took so long?’ for two NBC veteran/Emmy winners – duo Steve Carell and Tina Fey – to hook up as a married couple in a movie. The second thing you’ll think about is how much chemistry they share and how adorable they are together. The premise is very believable and disarming right from its opening of small kids jumping on the bed at 5 a.m. Life is nothing but work, the office and homelife, with little pocket for passion between couples these days. This could be our neighbors. Or worse…it could be us. Phil (Carell) and Claire (Fey) Foster are a bored married couple in mundane jobs with two demanding kids. They barely kiss, let alone stay awake long enough to order dessert on ‘datenight’ at the local Jersey steak house. Until Phil gets a brainstorm…he’ll take his wife to a very uber-chic Manhattan restaurant where it’s impossible to get a reservation. So they pretend they’re “The Tripplehorns” and take the Tripplehorns’ table when they’re a no-show for reasons the Fosters are yet to understand. They’re hoping for a hot night out and maybe some hot sex to follow. But what they get is the ‘wrong table’ intended for some blackmailers who have evidence of the District Attorney doing naughty political things on a flashdrive. A mad chase and wild night ensue – almost too unbelievable – that includes a shirtless Mark Wahlberg as a special security guy and even James Franco as some Bohemian village dude. The whole thing is ridiculously far-fetched, over the top and hilarious fun, but Fey and Carell are true pros handling their roles amidst the chaos and managing to stay in character. There will undoubtedly be a Date Night 2 and probably a 3. This is this summer’s “The Hangover” pick for your own date night. Stay long enough as the credits role for the Franco outtakes with Carell. Three and a half tiaras
