For the most part, I enjoy most films by Todd Phillips. He puts out decent comedies that sometimes bring something different to the table and they are also memorable for a lot reasons. Due Date is kind of like that. It did have promise and could been something more than it is. It is not terrible at all but it could been better and I think it was one of the biggest disappointments of the year 2010.
With a similar set up to the film Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Due Date is about Pete Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) who is on his way to Los Angles to witness the birth of his first son. Due to an altercation with a guy named Ethan (Zach Galifianakis) on his fight, they are both removed. As they are both trying to get California, they decide to go together but as usual the outcome is not what they want.
The film's lack of originality brings it down a step down and frankly it is not the most exciting movie out there. At times, there isn't much to the movie and it is very unrealistic in places. I didn't know you could drive to Los Angeles with a stolen Homeland Security truck without getting arrested in the end. With unrealistic ideas, we also have "unrealistic" characters who emerge unhurt from major incidents like cars flipping over.
That said, the main point of a comedy is to make people laugh. That is exactly the opposite of what the film does and the main point why this film is subpar.
Due Date does have good performances from the lead actors but it really fails about everywhere else. I have sat through many films from Todd Phillips before and some I praised and some I didn't but this is the only one where mockery was appropriate.
2/5
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