Date Night

Name: Date Night
Item: Date Night
Rating: 3
Author: Renee Schonfeld

Movie review by

Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media

Popular with kids

Common Sense says

age 15+

(i)

Funny duo packs in the silly sex jokes, plus minor gun play.

PG-13
2010
88 minutes

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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 26 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 55 reviews

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The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Positive Messages

The ultimate message is one that reinforces the positive aspects of a traditional marriage and the monogamous relationship, despite their many challenges, including monotony, irksome behavior, and even temptation. The husband says he does things he doesn't like because that's part of marriage and it's important to him to make his wife happy. Also, he asks his wife to trust more of the day-to-day household management to him and release some of her resentments. Through the ordeal, they are able to see one another in a new light and rekindle their affection.

Positive Role Models & Representations

The main characters are in love and seem to be good parents, but are also reckless, bumbling incompetents in the face of extraordinary circumstances. They lie, steal, and break into a store under extreme duress. Law enforcement officers are either honorable good guys, or corrupt villains.

Violence

Lots of action with characters held at gunpoint, heavy gunfire, and dangerous gangsters. The hero and heroine are constantly on the run, captured and menaced by two or more very bad guys. A lengthy car chase results in huge numbers of car crashes. All of the action, however, is intended to be comedic with no real threat of injury or death.

Sex

A very long sequence takes place in a strip club with women in various states of undress (no actual nudity), sexual posing, dancing, and cavorting with customers. A pole dance scene is played strictly for laughs. There is some kissing and embracing between couples, but no overt sexual activity. Lots of sexual innuendo throughout, including repeated scenes with a shirtless Mark Wahlberg, and discussion about the possibility of group sex. The final shot finds a married couple, fully clothed, embracing and rolling together in the grass.

Language

Language is coarse throughout, including one use of "f--k," and several uses of: "s--t," "vagina," dumbass," "pissed," and "asshole." Repeated use of "penis," "bitch," "whore," "whacked off," etc. Many uses of "God" and "Goddamn" as exclamations. There are sexual innuendos from beginning to end, all intended as humor. Several references to menstruation.

Consumerism

Kindle has a major product placement in one short scene. In another scene a bus stop ad features Dentyne gum prominently. Some fancy cars. Brief references to Radio Shack and Diet Sprite.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Wine is served with meals and in one scene the couple gets fairly tipsy and goofy. There are scenes in both a cocktail bar and a strip club which show many people drinking. One mention of the drug "nitrous" referring to a girl nicknamed "Whip-It."

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this farcical comedy, filled with the kind of pratfalls, comic car chases, and silly humor of Tina Fey and Steve Carell that appeal to teens, is geared more toward adults. It contains sexual innuendo and coarse language throughout, plus mature themes related to married life, and episodes of violence and gunplay -- all played for humor. One long sequence takes place in a strip club and includes near-nude women, suggestive dancing, and the threat of violent behavior. There are multiple discussions of menstruation, infidelity, and sexual misbehavior. Strong language abounds ("asshole," "s--t," "penis," "whore" and one use of "f--k"). The leading characters are held at gunpoint and shot at many times, however, it's all comedic action and no one is injured or killed. One comic car chase results in dozens of crashes, shattered windows, a character hanging onto carhood, and a main character ending up in a river, unharmed.

User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Adult Written byAngela Ferguson July 4, 2019

age 16+

Pappy and T s review

It was good but the actor playing co star with common as bad police officers really sucks and is weird and unattractive

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Written byAnonymous December 23, 2018

age 12+

The butt review

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Teen, 14 years old Written byClorox bleach March 19, 2021

age 10+

Boring

I didn’t find this movie funny. I don’t recommend this movie.

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Teen, 13 years old Written byNWS January 15, 2021

age 13+

Not a kids movie.

This is not a kids movie. It has language, some violence, a scene in a strip club (no nudity), and drinking. However, it is so funny, it's still worth watc... Continue reading

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What's the story?

After some seemingly happy friends decide to separate, Phil and Claire Foster (Steve Carell and Tina Fey) wonder about the solidity of their own marriage. Have parenthood, longevity, and routine begun to crack its foundation? A real DATE NIGHT in Manhattan (not just their usual New Jersey steakhouse outing) might add some zest to their lives. But when they arrive in New York City, a bad case of mistaken identity sends the Fosters on the run. Chased by some very scary people with guns, as well as the police, Phil and Claire have to use their not-always-reliable wits and minimal resources to outmaneuver the villains and discover some valuable truths about themselves.

Is it any good?

The pleasure and laughs in Date Night come from the physical comedy, special chemistry, wry humor, and remarkable talent of the movie's two stars. It's a film to sit back and enjoy, without thinking too hard about realism. Forget the silliness of the plot; it's simply the engine that drives the movie and allows the filmmakers to follow the antics of the Fosters and introduce other off-beat and vibrant characters (played by the hilarious James Franco, Ray Liotta, Mila Kunis, and a perpetually shirtless Mark Wahlberg).

As the chase continues, the characters stop runnning long enough (and the audience stops laughing long enough) to see some very real and recognizable private moments between Phil and Claire. Competent direction, a script that tries to bring some logic to the proceedings, along with the chronically funny characters and material, make the film seem spontaneous and even heartfelt amid all the boisterous merriment. Teens might find the slapstick humor funny, but they'll miss the jokes aimed at long-term couples and perhaps even scoff at the sentimental moments.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about danger and violence in the movie. Did you ever feel that the main characters were in serious jeopardy? What tools did the filmmakers use to show that it was all in fun and there was no real danger?
The movie had lots of sexual humor. How was the humor different from other movies where sex plays a prominent role? Did the fact that some of the sex jokes involved married people make them more or less funny? Why or why not?
What did the Fosters learn about themselves during their adventure? How did they surprise each other?
Would it surprise you to learn that the pole dancing scene was neither scripted nor rehearsed? Describe "improvisation" and talk about other instances in movies and on television where the material might have been improvised.

Movie details

In theaters: April 9, 2010
On DVD or streaming: August 9, 2010
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Steve Carell, Tina Fey
Director: Shawn Levy
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 88 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: sexual and crude content throughout, language, some violence and a drug reference
Last updated: September 21, 2019