Review of Due Date – 2010 Directed by Todd Phillips. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis.
This is a road trip story of two men, complete strangers, thrown together due to extraordinary events. They agree to drive to LA together so that Peter Highman (Downey Jr) can make the birth of his first child. He is road tripping with the immensely annoying aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Galifianakis).
Even from seeing the trailer, the similarities to Plans, Trains and Automobiles, the 1987 John Hughes classic staring Steve Martin and John Candy, becomes apparent. The main difference in the two is subtlety.
The character of Peter is just so unlikable and is a portrayal of a highly strung ‘American A$%hole’ who seems self obsessed and frankly overly violent and aggressive to his companion. There is no slow build up of emotions just explosions of anger. Some glimpses of sympathy appear but they are short lived, unrealistic and out of context. We are watching Tony Stark without the one liners. I really wanted to like this character, although I understand that he is to be a contrast to Ethan I never got past my first impression of him, to go through the journey with him and understand him but I never got this chance. Downey Jr is a great actor but this character is one dimensional and soulless which is really the fault of the pace of the film and extremes of the situations presented to him. Downey Jr. does get a few of the laughs but the film is really carried by Galifianakis.
The Character of Ethan is an enduring eccentric wanna be actor on his way to Hollywood. He latches on to Peter in his desperation for companionship and true friendship. We learn very early on in the film of the death of his father, although this allows for a great monologue by Downey Jr (setting up some laughs) I resented getting this information so early on and felt like we know too much about Ethan too soon. Ethan gets the majority of the laughs and is surreal, vulnerable and likable.
I would have thought that the objective of the road trip buddy movie would be that the two eventually have a better understanding of one another and the audience is happy and resolved with there newly formed friendship. I was not convinced that such bond had been created but the film makers tagged on a scene at the end to show that they are and would continue to be friends. If the whole film had come together better this last scene would not be needed as the relationship would be obviously ensued.