It would take one hand to count the times I have nodded off during a movie, but 20th Century Fox’s “Date Night” makes the short list.

The problem with “Date Night” is it suffers from a terminal case of mediocrity. With a storyline that focuses on privileged white folks trying to fix a boring marriage, it never steps off the overly trodden path of the romantic comedy. Despite the addition of mobsters and chase sequences, it is still the formulaic story of repairing a possible divorce.

Phil and Claire Foster, played by Steve Carell and Tina Fey, believe their marriage is boring and try to rekindle it. But somewhere between the trip to the divorce attorney and a second honeymoon, something crazy happens and darn it, there goes their dinner plans.

Blah, blah, blah, stuff happens (Oh, look: The wife shows an interest in one of her clients, played by the muscular Mark Wahlberg) and the couple goes through dangerous situations together. It’s like marriage counseling, except with the added risk of internal bleeding.

Of course, Phil and Claire don’t die and everything is resolved. They’re making out on the lawn just in time for the credits to roll. The perfect Hollywood ending.

While that may sound jaded, these types of films are a dime a dozen, and even though the acting and delivery by Steve Carell (“The Office”) and Fey  (“Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock”) was not lost on me, the premise and script were.

One can only hope Phil and Claire’s impending second honeymoon is not as predictable as this film. Otherwise, there will be a sequel.  Might I suggest “Date Night 2: Irreconcilable Indifference.”
 

Contact Troy Patton at [email protected]