Date Night parents guide

Date Night Parent Guide

The talent of the cast members fails to translate this script into the kind of engaging marital romp audiences should expect from these performers.

Overall C+

In an attempt to spice up their marriage, Phil and Clara Foster (Steve Carell and Tina Fey) plan a Date Night at an expensive restaurant. However, the evening turns hotter than either of them could have imaged when they are mistaken for another couple by some angry hit men.

Release date April 9, 2010

Violence B-
Sexual Content C+
Profanity D+
Substance Use C+

Why is Date Night rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Date Night PG-13 for sexual and crude content throughout, language, some violence and a drug reference.

Run Time: 88 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

Phil and Claire Foster (Steve Carell, Tina Fey) are the stereotypical two-income, two undisciplined kids, too-tired-for-sex suburbanite couple. The tax accountant and his real estate agent wife do, however, have a regular date night, which puts them far ahead of many other time-strapped and weary marriage partners. Still they worry their relationship is slipping into a less-than-zesty routine—especially after they discover their friends (Mark Ruffalo, Kristen Wiig) are divorcing.

So rather than spend another comfortable evening at the neighborhood steak house, they decide to shake things up with a dinner date in Manhattan. The restaurant they are headed for is packed by the time they arrive and they don’t have a hope of getting in until Phil lies about their last name in order to take another patron’s reservation.

Like most seemingly harmless fibs, this one requires another one to cover it up. And before they’ve even had time to order dessert, the Fosters are escorted by a pair of solemn looking men (Jimmi Simpson, Common) out the back door and into an alley where they expect to get a tongue lashing for taking another customer’s table. Instead the men produce guns and demand that the "Tripplehorns" return a piece of stolen property. From that moment on Phil and Claire are caught up in a cascade of lies and crimes that has the New York City Police department and a gaggle of thugs hot on their trail.

Happily married couples are a rarity in the movies. (Filmmakers seem to prefer to have husbands and wives shooting at one another—Mr. & Mrs. Smith or at least arguing strenuously—Did You Hear About the Morgans?) But short of one or two tense moments when Phil voices his disappointment over their lack of intimacy and Claire complains about Phil’s inability to shut drawers, this couple rarely argues. They also don’t get cozy or even exchange a passionate kiss. The director seems intent on sparing viewers from having to watch a married couple smooch even though strippers, prostitutes, invitations for group sex, a buff, shirtless security officer (Mark Wahlberg) and passionate saliva swapping between a couple of tattooed criminals (James Franco, Mila Kunis) are fine. Later while trying to conceal their real identities to protect their kids, Phil and Claire do resort to talking tough and nasty on the street and performing in a strip joint.

Many of the cast members on this project have worked at SNL and Second City, honing their comedic skills and timing. Yet their talent fails to translate this script into the kind of engaging marital romp audiences should expect from these performers. And though there are lines and moments in the film that seem perched on the edge of hilarity, the chemistry between these characters never really generates into something magical. Combine that letdown with plenty of crass, trash talk and sexual innuendo and this film becomes a bit of a disappointing choice for a Date Night—whether you’re married or not.

Directed by Shawn Levy. Starring Steve Carell, Tina Fey. Running time: 88 minutes. Theatrical release April 9, 2010. Updated

Date Night
Rating & Content Info

Why is Date Night rated PG-13? Date Night is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for sexual and crude content throughout, language, some violence and a drug reference.

A couple appears to be a little tipsy after consuming alcohol with dinner. Other social drinking is depicted infrequently. Characters discover illegal drugs in a home. The script contains frequent talk about sexual subjects, the use of anatomical terms, innuendo, name-calling and rude and vulgar comments. An extreme, sexual profanity and several shortened forms of the word are used along with scatological terms, profanities and terms of Deity. Characters are punched in the face, hit with a boat oar, threatened with guns and involved in automobile accidents. They also lie, steal property and break into a place of business. A man vomits on the street after being chased by criminals. Gunshots are fired on several occasions. A man jumps out of a speeding car. Strippers perform erotic dance moves. A couple executes a sexually suggestive dance. Men are seen kissing and nuzzling prostitutes.

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Date Night Parents' Guide

Is it important for married couples to continue the courtship after the wedding? Why do some husbands and wives struggle to do that? How can "life" interfere?

What things do Phil and Claire discover about one another during their adventure?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Date Night movie is August 10, 2010. Here are some details…

Date Night releases to home video on August 10, 2010 as a Single-Disc DVD and on Blu-ray With Digital Copy.

Date Night: Single-Disc DVD comes with the following bonus extras:

- Gag reel

- Extended Car Chase

- Directing Off Camera

- Date Night PSAs (three versions)

- Directing 301 with Shawn Levy

- Audio Commentary with Shawn Levy

Date Night: Blu-ray With Digital Copy includes all of the above, plus:

- Deleted Scenes

- Extended Scenes

- Disaster Dates with the Cast

- Steve and Tina Camera Tests

- Live Lookup

- Digital Copy of the Movie

Related home video titles:

A married man caught up in the rut of everyday life hopes to spice up his existence by enrolling in a ballroom dance class in Shall We Dance. A case of mistaken identity has another man running for his life in the Hitchcock classis, North By Northwest. Steve Carell plays a widower who falls in love with his brother’s girlfriend in Dan in Real Life and a bumbling secret agent in Get Smart.

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