Due Date - Cinema Review

'the only elements that prevent this from turning into a high-school comedy are the age of the leads and the absence of Jason Biggs'

In a first half which sees lead duo Peter (Robert Downey Jr) and Ethan (Zach Galifianakis) end up in such 'hilarious' scrapes as being beaten up by a wheelchair-bound army veteran and suffer accusations of terrorism whilst on board a pan-American flight, Due Date heads down the road of being distinctly unfunny or borderline offensive, dependant on your own personal comedy boundaries. Scenes that should, for the un-offended, register a shocked giggle, fail to ignite and waste opportunities of genuine comedy as director/co-writer Todd Phillips limps along to an overwrought and over-long stop off in a rest area.

Come the morning though, now about halfway through the lead's road trip from Atlanta to Los Angeles, the film suddenly picks up with one of two unexpected and substantial set pieces that bring the film to life with a swift kick to its funny bone. The obvious comparisons with Planes, Trains & Automobiles ring true on a plot level but this feels much more frat pack, much more Road Trip (which Phillips, it may surprise some to discover, also wrote and directed), than John Hughes' film and the only elements that prevent this from turning into a high-school comedy are the age of the leads and the absence of Jason Biggs.

Which means that the scenes of ridiculous naivety and, on a more base level, inadvertent drug abuse, are all present and correct, portrayed much more satisfyingly by the experienced Downey Jr and Galifianakis than a cast of anonymous youngsters could ever manage. The increasingly outlandish scenarios, with Ethan's lack of intelligence constantly frustrating short-fused architect Peter, build to a predictable, satisfying and sudden end that is further embellished by the brief appearance earlier on of Jamie Foxx, whose presence adds an extra and very welcome layer to proceedings.

Phillips' script though, continually lets the director and stars down and both Galifianakis and Downey Jr frequently feel like they're either under-scripted or underplaying their roles in a subdued manner which doesn't fit the material. With Hollywood's hottest comedy director, a rising comedy star and one of its hottest talents all present, Due Date feels like it should be much more praiseworthy, and funny, that it actually is and the lack of laughs in the very final scene, which brings in a different property altogether, are indicative of its somewhat stunted stab at mainstream comedy.

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'Due Date has two one-note, ignorant, self-involved travellers that annoy each other (and sometimes the audience) and yet want us to state that all is forgiven because the reason for their travels are noble' - The Afrofilmviewer