Date NightMovie Reviews

Teaser poster art for "Date Night."

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Avg. Critic Score: 56 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
14 Iffy for 14+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 88
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    This is the rare screwball comedy that is superbly paced, cleverly plotted and hilarious from start to finish. Read full review

  • 88
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    All the time Phil and Claire seem like the kind of people who don't belong in a screwball comedy. That's why it's funny. They're bewildered. Read full review

  • 75
    San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle

    Best of all, the filmmakers know when to pull the plug. Date Night clocks in at 88 minutes and would not have been as funny at 89. Read full review

  • 75
    Washington Post | Michael O'Sullivan

    Regardless of the silliness of the situation -- or, in truth, because of it -- they're a joy to watch. Read full review

  • 75
    Entertainment Weekly | Lisa Schwarzbaum

    For this 21st-century Nick and Nora Charles, the flame is kept alive despite his nighttime anti-snore nose strip and her nighttime bite guard -- thanks to a shared appreciation of the hilarity of nose strips and bite guards. Read full review

  • 70
    Variety |

    An uncommonly engaging date movie. Read full review

  • 70
    The Hollywood Reporter | Frank Scheck

    These talented performers star in two of the wittiest, most sophisticated sitcoms on the air, but for this movie pairing they're stuck with an endlessly silly plot line and overblown physical mayhem that is instantly forgettable. The fact that they make it so funny nonetheless is a testament to their abilities. Read full review

  • 63
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    Stay for the outtakes they're improv delights, suggesting the movie that might have been if they had just left it all to Carell and Fey. Read full review

  • 60
    Los Angeles Times | Kenneth Turan

    All this is good as far as it goes, but the problem is the good parts don't last long enough. Read full review

  • 50
    The New York Times | A.O. Scott

    Date Night, like so many other films of its type, too often relies on words, catchphrases and inflections that signify a generally accepted notion of funniness rather than being, you know, actually funny. Read full review

View more reviews for Date Night on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says Iffy for 14+ Funny duo packs in the silly sex jokes, plus minor gun play.
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.
  • 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.
The good stuff
  • message true2 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.
  • rolemodels true1 Positive role models: 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.
What to watch for
  • violence false2 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 false2 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 false3 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 false2 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.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false2 Drinking, drugs and 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."
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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