Due Date (2010)

Due Date engulfed me in laughter.  It was one hysterical moment after another.  Just when I thought I could not laugh any longer, I giggled and then laughed harder and longer than before.

The film is a sort of new-age Planes, Trains, & Automobiles (1987).  Peter (Robert Downey Jr.) is leaving Atlanta and trying to return to his nearly birthing wife (Michelle Monaghan) in Los Angeles.  Everything is going smoothly until Peter bumps into Ethan (Zach Galifianakis).  Peter ends up stuck traveling across the country with Ethan desperately trying to be in the delivery room when his baby arrives.

The chemistry and timing between Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis is hysterical.  The way that their personalities play off of each other is brilliant.  Robert Downey Jr. brings a slick, suave, seriousness to his character and Galifianakis is everything but.  The duo was a perfect casting match.  I think that this movie is easily my favorite Robert Downey Jr. movie and could be the best movie that Zach Galifianakis is in.

Jamie Foxx, Juliette Lewis, Danny McBride, RZA, Matt Walsh, and Todd Phillips all have small cameo-like appearances.

The humor is clever and raunchy and about everything else in between.  But, it is all mostly just well-crafted.  The writers: Alan R. Cohen, Alan Freedman, Adam Sztykiel, and Todd Phillips, took a very basic idea for a story and screenplay and let their imaginations run wild.

Due Date is directed by Todd Phillips.  He continues his trend of directing and being a part of hilarious movies.  I didn’t realize that he also directed The Hangover (2009), The Hangover Part II (2011), The Hangover Part III (2013), School for Scoundrels (2006), Starsky and Hutch (2004), Old School (2003), and Road Trip (2000) among others.  That is a heck of a comedy resume!  If you liked any of those movies, than you will definitely like Due Date.

If you have not seen this movie, I implore you to do so.  It is available to rent on Netflix, or just go out and buy it.  It is not currently available at the Redbox.  I have probably seen it 5 times now and it was highly amusing every time.  You will not be disappointed.

I rate this movie a 9.5 on a scale of 1-10.

Buy, rent, or run?  BUY!

If you liked Due Date (2010), then you might enjoy Identity Thief (2013).

Note: I did you a favor by only posting the teaser trailer for this movie.  The full-length preview shows way too much.