Due Date that opens in the U.S. and the U.K. tomorrow is one mighty brave film because; A) it's pretty much a modern day remake of the Steve Martin/John Candy classic
Planes, Trains and Automobiles - one of the funniest and most beloved comedies of all time and B) Because
Robert Downey Jr puts his universal likeability on the line by fearlessly portraying a downright despicable, misanthropic, loathsome asshole side of himself that we've never seen before. But you know what - the end result is an above-average comedy, one that celebrates the true hostile nature of human beings and doesn't conform to the norm of mainstream comedies needing likeable, cookie-cutter and reassuring characters to be funny. This isn't your usual Joe Popcorn comedy, this one's a straight-shooter and it won't make
The Hangover numbers for this reason.
Due Date is basically a black comedy road trip movie based on a Bill Murray-esque character that was blessed with handsome looks (in his trademark sunglasses and all), stuck with Stan 'another fine mess you got us into' Laurel whose black raincloud above his head only seems to cause problems to those he is with rather than himself (except when he drinks a cup of coffee blended from his father's ashes which was unfortunate and not really his fault). You've seen the trailer by now so you know it's the story of how a highly intelligent but highly strung architect and a socially (and perhaps mentally) retarted stranger must get along on a road trip to L.A. where Peter (Downey Jr's character) needs to be to witness the birth of his child. It's hardly a concept brimming with originality but it's 'the way you tell em' as someone once said and it's never been told as sinister as this. It's a comedy with bite, where no matter how much you frown and gasp at the actions of Downey Jr (including but not limited to; spitting a dog full on in the face, fighting a guy in a wheelchair and an act so irrepressible to a young kid, you almost can't believe a mainstream comedy would...go...
there ) - you are remarkably still on his side, I suspect, because there's a bit of his Peter Highman in all of us. We all hate rudeness, stupidity, obnoxious arrogance and annoying strangers and especially offensive behaviour by others, and though we might mutter under our breath what Downey Jr's character instead delivers up-front to others, we all get where he is coming from and understand. His character claims he knows he is an 'asshole' but that he is 'working on it' which is the closest we get to an explanation for how he acts the way he does and that's great - no long speeches, no need to explain, no 'I'm usually a fun-loving, kind-hearted guy'. He's a mean, self-knowing asshole and we can all embrace that side of ourselves. It's a brave performance from an actor who is a huge box office star and I would suggest you all lap it up and enjoy it because from the way his career is heading, we've only really got further performances as Tony Stark and Sherlock Holmes to look forward to in the coming years.
Of course as you've seen from the trailer
Zach Galifianakis is channeling much of his other
Todd Phillips directed performance from
The Hangover here and although I think the overgrown child-act was a little bit more confusing to understand this time (he at times seems self-aware of his actions and then suddenly not, but it might just be the pot messing with his head), he's still second-only to Jonah Hill as the funniest man on the planet right now. He's overshadowed here by Downey Jr (never thought I would see Galifianakis overshadowed by anyone, but hey that's what Rob does) but he's such an odd thespian. Gonna be fascinating to see if/when he tries to branch out from these crazy loons he's so strong at playing.
Due Date is the first film from Phillips since The Hangover, and it carries over much of the same humour. I think it's funnier (if in a more subtle, quieter way) and it's certainly the one I am more likely to re-watch and take something from. The characters are more interesting, the performances better. And the bigger laughs are worth the slow-build durations. The film may run out of steam around the unnecessary Mexico border part of the movie and I imagine they had some trouble with how to end it. There's also a TON of script problems (the bookends are awful, the supporting characters are WAFER thin and pointless and Downey Jr makes such an absurd deicision to stick with Zach midway through the film, that he probably does deserve to be put in an early grave) but honestly, who cares? The film pretty much had me from the first Downey Jr act of unkindness. Is it wrong I relate to assholes?
Due Date is in cinema's now.