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Directed by Shawn Levy, Written by Josh Klausner. 20th Century Fox, 2010. Color, 1 hour 28 minutes.With stars like Steve Carrell and Tina Fey, one would expect this movie to be laugh-out-loud funny at every turn. I think this is why most people were disappointed with the film. Carrell and Fey do have their signature comedic moments, but most of them have already been revealed if you have seen the trailer. Instead, this feels almost like a family movie. A family movie with strippers, thieves, and crooked politicians.
The un-friendly parts of the movie, however, are so stereotypical, that they don't seem that raunchy. There doesn't seem to be a lot of uncharted territory, and it seems all Levy knows about the vices of New York City, he learned from other goofy movies.
If you can get past the fact that this movie is not The Office or SNL humor we're used to from these stars, the movie isn't that bad. Predictable, cheesy, cliche, but not bad. The story is about a couple who tries to break out of the day-to-day routine and spice up their marriage. They just happen to get caught in the middle of a blackmail scandal in the progress. It is a feel good movie that follows suit with Levy's other films. Although most of his other movies are "family movies," this seems more like a family film for adults. I'm sure it would be a lot more funny and appreciated by married couples with young children, or anyone who has been in that stage of life.
Probably the main reason this film did not fall well upon critics is the casting. It breaks our comfort zone to see Fey and Carrell as boring, married parents. Their comedy is too subdued, and the funniest parts and most familiar laughs are during the blooper reel in the credits.
Three out of Four stars.
