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DATE NIGHTMovie Reviews
Romantic comedy about the mayhem that ensues when a bored suburban couple has a "date night" in Manhattan. Cast:Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg, James Franco, Leighton MeesterDirector:Shaun LevyRelease Date:April 9, 2010DVD Release:August 10, 2010From:20th Century FoxRating:PG-13Length:1 hr 28 min
Date Night played to good not great reviews. • Norman Wilner wrote in Toronto Now, "...it's all about Carell and Fey bouncing off each other in increasingly silly ways. Keep your expectations low. It worked for me." • And Clint O'Connor wrote in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, "...an easy to digest comedy... the overall effect stamps it as more of a rent-it-later affair, as opposed to rush-out-and-see-it." More Reviews Below...
Date Night Positive Reviews (49 Reviews, reviews below)
Mary Pols, Time: GOOD "There's nothing particularly compelling about the action plot, but director Shawn Levy certainly can deliver a fast-paced, amusing car chase."(See all of Mary Pols's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 615 words, 04/09/10
David Germain, Associated Press: WEAK(cg) "...a dreary, uninspired waste of Carell and Fey's talents -- and those of the top-name cast inexplicably appearing in small throwaway roles."(See all of David Germain's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 591 words, 04/08/10
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a giddy but uneven caper... While Fey's funny as usual and Carell tickles, the script lacks the snap of 'The Office' or '30 Rock,' and it has an awkward finale at a strip club."(See all of Thelma Adams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 76 words, 04/08/10
James Berardinelli, Reel Views: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "As dynamic as the duo of Carell and Fey might be, they prove unable to reverse the trend of padded and forgettable action/comedies.... adequate entertainment."(See all of James Berardinelli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 858 words, 04/07/10
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Stay for the outtakes - they're improv delights, suggesting the movie that might have been if they had just left it all to Carell and Fey."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 271 words, 04/16/10
Claudia Puig, USA Today: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...an absurd and wildly amusing night to remember. This is the rare screwball comedy that is superbly paced, cleverly plotted and hilarious from start to finish."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 453 words, 04/09/10
Roger Ebert, RogerEbert.com: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...funny because, against all odds, it is involving. Each crazy step in the bizarre plot made a certain sense because it followed from what went before..."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 703 words, 04/08/10
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (15 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: FAIR "...sets these stars afloat in a busy and conventional story, hoping that their proven talents, or maybe their reputations, will keep the picture from sinking."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 882 words, 04/09/10
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...best moments are simply Fey and Carell quipping, dead-panning or bantering... The trouble is, too much of director Shawn Levy's '80s-ish lark is filled with noise..."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 442 words, 04/09/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: MODERATE "...diverting, and it gives these two their first chance to work together, yet you can't help but wish that the film functioned on as high a level as its stars do."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 716 words, 04/09/10
Lou Lumenick, New York Post: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Carell and Fey carry the proceedings... These two brainy and attractive TV charmers deliver occasional zingers that rise above the generally dumb proceedings..."(See all of Lou Lumenick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 473 words, 04/09/10
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...inferior to the material routinely finessed by Carell and Fey on their respective hit shows... gets by, almost despite itself, on the durability and wiles of its stars."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 524 words, 04/09/10
Rafer Guzman, New York Newsday: MODERATE(cg) "Fey and Carell, both character-driven comedians, are initially endearing, but they seem less comfortable with the movie's halfhearted slapstick."(See all of Rafer Guzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 266 words, 04/09/10
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: FAIR "I'm not sure Carell and Fey are, as clowns, in their (tip-top) league, but if they keep making tepid throwaways with directors like Levy, how will we -- and they -- ever know?"(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 240 words, 04/12/10
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...funny because, against all odds, it is involving. Each crazy step in the bizarre plot made a certain sense because it followed from what went before..."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 703 words, 04/08/10
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: VERY GOOD(cg) "Watching Carell and Fey in action, trading quips and dodging gunfire makes you wonder why it's taken so long to bring these two gifted comics together."(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 622 words, 04/09/10
Rick Groen, Toronto Globe & Mail: MODERATE(cg) "All that starring talent isn't exactly wasted here; it's just diluted, watered down enough to demote 'really funny' to sort of funny, now and then, here and there..."(See all of Rick Groen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 680 words, 04/09/10
Christopher Kelly, Orange County Register: EXCELLENT(cg) "By the time Carrell and Fey are writhing on a stripper pole in the back room of a seedy private strip club, the movie has entered its own realm of inspired delirium."(See all of Christopher Kelly's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 914 words, 04/09/10
Josep Parera, La Opinion: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...formato de producciones sin pretensiones ni un solo apunte de originalidad.... Si va a ver 'Date Night,' la cita no terminará siendo catastrófica, pero sí olvidable."(See all of Josep Parera's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 430 words, 04/09/10
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...it's all about Carell and Fey bouncing off each other in increasingly silly ways. Keep your expectations low. It worked for me."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 358 words, 04/08/10
KEY CITIES (17 Reviews)
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...it ain't what Carell and Fey do; it's the way they do it.... Regardless of the silliness of the situation -- or, in truth, because of it -- they're a joy to watch."(See all of Michael O'Sullivan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 490 words, 04/09/10
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: VERY GOOD(cg) "Carell and Fey ad-libbed much of their material. Klausner's well-constructed scenario provided them with a springboard for some thrilling verbal high-dives."(See all of Carrie Rickey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 640 words, 04/09/10
Mick LaSalle, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "Mark Wahlberg has an amusing featured role as a government agent who looks like an underwear model and never wears a shirt."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 673 words, 04/09/10
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...brief, middle-of-the-road, middlebrow giggler lacks the pace or the punch to give us and the Fosters a night to remember.... What really clicks is the couple at the core."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 484 words, 04/09/10
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Were it not for the amiable chemistry between its stars, there would be no reason to see it. Their spot-on comic teamwork salvages this routine mistaken-identity comedy."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 278 words, 04/09/10
Tom Maurstad, Dallas Morning News: VERY GOOD(cg) "...isn't great. But it's fine, funny enough to keep you engaged.... give it time and repeat broadcasts, and it will likely insinuate itself..."(See all of Tom Maurstad's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 502 words, 04/09/10
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "For every moment of sweet timing -- in particular, Carell's -- there's an equal and opposite moment of comedy-writing laziness."(See all of Lisa Kennedy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 610 words, 04/09/10
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: MODERATE(cg) "...manages to live down to its store-brand title.... Fey and Carell are at their best when they break the character and flash some satirical leg..."(See all of Wesley Morris's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 695 words, 04/09/10
Clint O'Connor, Cleveland Plain-Dealer: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...an easy to digest comedy... the overall effect stamps it as more of a rent-it-later affair, as opposed to rush-out-and-see-it."(See all of Clint O'Connor's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 366 words, 04/09/10
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a genuinely sweet, funny movie.... Credit Carell and Fey with creating the kind of chemistry that makes you root for them instantly..."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 489 words, 04/09/10
Marc Mohan, Portland Oregonian: VERY GOOD(cg) "...what makes it work are its stars.... With some very amusing appearances from the likes of James Franco, Kristin Wiig and a shirtless Mark Wahlberg..."(See all of Marc Mohan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 211 words, 04/09/10
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: MODERATE(cg) "This lemon was squeezed dry by script mechanic Josh Klausner ('Shrek the Third') and plucked from the reject pile by ham-fisted director Shawn Levy..."(See all of Joe Williams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 319 words, 04/09/10
Tom Long, Detroit News: VERY GOOD(cg) "What makes it funnier than it has any right to be is Tina Fey, whose asides, improvs and double takes not only overcome the formulaic story, they make it not even matter."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 652 words, 04/09/10
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...the movie must eventually surrender to its irrelevant plot and Levy's impersonal direction, and you leave the theater satisfied yet strangely displeased."(See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 558 words, 04/09/10
Tom Meek, Boston Phoenix: MODERATE(cg) "Director Shawn Levy, despite the wit and chemistry of his leads and a killer line-up of cameos, manages to make the whole thing feel like a one-season sit-com..."(See all of Tom Meek's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 158 words, 04/15/10
Nathan Rabin, AV Club: GOOD(cg) "...a thoroughly okay action-comedy.... whenever the film threatens to develop real comic momentum or pathos, it grinds to a halt for arbitrary thriller mechanics..."(See all of Nathan Rabin's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 346 words, 04/08/10
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...it's all about Carell and Fey bouncing off each other in increasingly silly ways. Keep your expectations low. It worked for me."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 358 words, 04/08/10
A.O. Scott, New York Times: FAIR "...sets these stars afloat in a busy and conventional story, hoping that their proven talents, or maybe their reputations, will keep the picture from sinking."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 882 words, 04/09/10
David Edelstein, NPR Fresh Air: FAIR "Even with material this uninspired, Fey and Carell have style and aplomb.... a movie that calls for big, whacking hysteria -- and dumb slapstick, and car chases."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Listen to the full review...) 298 seconds, 04/09/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: MODERATE "...diverting, and it gives these two their first chance to work together, yet you can't help but wish that the film functioned on as high a level as its stars do."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 716 words, 04/09/10
MOVIE INDUSTRY (6 Reviews)
Lael Loewenstein, Daily Variety: OUTSTANDING "From their deadpan comedic styles to their brunet good looks, Fey and Carell are so well matched it seems almost inconceivable that this is their first onscreen pairing."(See all of Lael Loewenstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 798 words, 04/05/10
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter: GOOD "Carell and Fey are stuck with an endlessly silly plot line... The fact that they make it so funny nonetheless is a testament to their abilities."(See all of Frank Scheck's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 476 words, 04/05/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: MODERATE "...diverting, and it gives these two their first chance to work together, yet you can't help but wish that the film functioned on as high a level as its stars do."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 716 words, 04/09/10
A.O. Scott, New York Times: FAIR "...sets these stars afloat in a busy and conventional story, hoping that their proven talents, or maybe their reputations, will keep the picture from sinking."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 882 words, 04/09/10
16.7 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Date Night's reviews are separated by an average 16.7 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Date Night (49 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Date Night's reviews cover 97.8% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 24,517 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 500 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Date Night Coverage, Volume & Length (49 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 4.4 Hours After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Date Night's reviews on average broke 4.4 hours after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Date Night's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Date Night (49 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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