Greetings again from the darkness. Director Todd Phillips has become comedy director du jour thanks first to "Old School" and the more recent mega-blockbuster "The Hangover". This film is not quite at the level of the two prior films, but it certainly holds it own in today's multiplex. In other words, it has some laughs ... even a few laugh outloud moments. Especially if you have somehow managed to avoid the trailers.
The best way I can describe this one is as an updated "Planes, Trains and Automobiles", only with Todd Phillips humor, rather than John Hughes humanity. That being said, Mr. Phillips does work hard at minimizing the gross-out factor and does try to instill some true character development with Robert Downey, Jr and Zach Galifianakis. The element of fatherhood, both loss of and becoming one, plays a role as these two opposites bang heads for 3 days.
Ethan (Zach G) is an actor-wannabe, motivated by the sitcom Two and a Half Men. He is an excessively annoying individual who displays only the rarest moments of rationale behavior. Downey, Jr is reunited with his "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang" co-star Michelle Monaghan as an uptight architect (Peter) and his soon to deliver first child wife (Sarah). They get little screen time together, but the relationship plays a role. Circumstances cause Ethan and Peter into a rental car and cross country race to get Peter home before Sarah delivers.
The road trip includes a Western Union run in with Danny McBride, a pit stop for glaucoma meds with Juliette Lewis and a quick ride from Jamie Foxx, after Ethan falls asleep at the wheel and they fly off a highway ramp. Just when things seem better, Ethan partakes in some of the medication, takes a wrong turn and the two find themselves at the Mexico border, glassy eyes and all. This all occurs while Ethan and his dog work to befriend Peter, while transporting not only the "meds", but also Ethan's deceased father's ashes ... in a coffee can.
Many of the gags are predictable, but some are quite funny. It doesn't have near the gross-out element of "The Hangover", except for Ethan's pre-bedtime ritual and his matching dog. Would have liked a few more segments with cameos - maybe the other guys from "The Hangover", because the attempt at making these guys appreciate each other falls a bit short. The soundtrack includes Neil Young, Cowboy Junkies, Cream and Pink Floyd, so there is usually a nice background tune playing. Additionally, RDJ and Zach G prove once again that they are forces of physical comedy when provided decent material.
The best way I can describe this one is as an updated "Planes, Trains and Automobiles", only with Todd Phillips humor, rather than John Hughes humanity. That being said, Mr. Phillips does work hard at minimizing the gross-out factor and does try to instill some true character development with Robert Downey, Jr and Zach Galifianakis. The element of fatherhood, both loss of and becoming one, plays a role as these two opposites bang heads for 3 days.
Ethan (Zach G) is an actor-wannabe, motivated by the sitcom Two and a Half Men. He is an excessively annoying individual who displays only the rarest moments of rationale behavior. Downey, Jr is reunited with his "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang" co-star Michelle Monaghan as an uptight architect (Peter) and his soon to deliver first child wife (Sarah). They get little screen time together, but the relationship plays a role. Circumstances cause Ethan and Peter into a rental car and cross country race to get Peter home before Sarah delivers.
The road trip includes a Western Union run in with Danny McBride, a pit stop for glaucoma meds with Juliette Lewis and a quick ride from Jamie Foxx, after Ethan falls asleep at the wheel and they fly off a highway ramp. Just when things seem better, Ethan partakes in some of the medication, takes a wrong turn and the two find themselves at the Mexico border, glassy eyes and all. This all occurs while Ethan and his dog work to befriend Peter, while transporting not only the "meds", but also Ethan's deceased father's ashes ... in a coffee can.
Many of the gags are predictable, but some are quite funny. It doesn't have near the gross-out element of "The Hangover", except for Ethan's pre-bedtime ritual and his matching dog. Would have liked a few more segments with cameos - maybe the other guys from "The Hangover", because the attempt at making these guys appreciate each other falls a bit short. The soundtrack includes Neil Young, Cowboy Junkies, Cream and Pink Floyd, so there is usually a nice background tune playing. Additionally, RDJ and Zach G prove once again that they are forces of physical comedy when provided decent material.