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'Due Date' disappointment

By Chase Koeneke

Published Nov. 12, 2010

Last week, I wrote about "Red," a movie in which a bunch of mega-stars got together and put on a great performance that resulted in an excellent popcorn flick. I was really worried "Red" would be a disaster because throwing resources at a project doesn't always bring about the best final product. (Cue evil-eyed stare at James Cameron's "Avatar.")

It turns out my worries were put into the wrong movie. I should've been much more cautious about "Due Date."

"Due Date" has all the pieces of a great film: the hilarious Zach Galifianakis, the sharp wit of Robert Downey Jr., the direction of the very funny guys behind "The Hangover" and the always-promising premise of a cross-country road trip.

But the truth is, it's just not that good. Actually, let me rephrase: It's not good at all.

Galifianakis has been walking on water as of late, but his character in "Due Date" is completely flat. It worked in "The Hangover," but it can't hold up under the pressure of a leading role. It's a shame because you know there's so much more to Galifianakis than what we're given.

Downey Jr.'s performance, though witty and sharp, felt strained too. You'd think a movie about two guys who travel across the country together might do a decent job of developing the main characters. But instead, we're left with paper cutouts and tired one-liners. Even the cameo from Jamie Foxx falls way short of its potential.

Not to say you won't laugh during "Due Date." It certainly has its funny moments. But don't expect anything to live up to the infamous Taser scene in "The Hangover."

There are a ton of movies that do what "Due Date" does much better. If you want to see Downey Jr. really strut his stuff, check out "Charlie Bartlett" or "Sherlock Holmes."

Looking for a more real performance from Galifianakis? I still highly recommend "It's Kind of a Funny Story." Even more real? Give the semi-documentary "The Comedians of Comedy" a shot.

Or, if you're looking for a comedy in the same vein of "Due Date," maybe give "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" or "The Hangover" another spin.

I had so much hope for "Due Date," but it just couldn't live up to the expectations. It's not worth $7. It's barely worth a viewing when it hits Netflix.

Now with that whole "review" thing finished, I feel the need to bring up something that's been bothering me as of late. Babies. They're infecting my comedies. Why?

"Knocked Up," "The Hangover," "Baby Mama" and now "Due Date." Since when did babies get so funny? Attention, filmmakers: Let's branch out a bit. There are lots of great ideas still out there waiting to be made. Let's not tie ourselves down to the whole baby thing.