CORPORATE LINE: The twisted minds of two of the six writers of Scary Movie – Aaron Seltzer and Jason Friedberg – skewer the romantic comedy genre in DATE MOVIE, a film for people who love date movies and people who hate them.
The filmmakers’ goal, in their own words: “We wanted to create a romance that women will respond to and a balls-out comedy for the men in the audience.”
Seltzer and Friedberg tell the story of hopeless romantic Julia Jones, who has finally met the man of her dreams, the very British Grant Funkyerdoder. But before they can have their Big Fat Greek Wedding, they’ll have to Meet the Parents; hook-up with The Wedding Planner, and contend with Grant’s friend Andy – a spectacularly beautiful woman who wants to put an end to her Best Friend’s Wedding.
Their central character is Julia Jones. The moniker is a play on the names of superstar Julia Roberts and fictional character Bridget Jones, and it represents a blend of actor and character that audiences love to watch fall in love. Julia is the heart of DATE MOVIE. “The one thing we know about Julia is that no matter how hard you try to keep her down, you can’t crush her spirit,” says Seltzer. “She believes in true love, and that’s the thing you hang your hat on.”
DATE MOVIETHE REVIEW: No one goes to see the Date Movie expecting anything spectacular. The best thing you can hope for us a few good laughs.
Date Movie will make you laugh—it will also make you sit there for an extended period of time wondering why you wasted your money. There are numerous gags that crash to earth like an asteroid.
Alyson Hannigan does a good job of making viewers laugh. She has good comedic timing and is always so cute that you can’t help but love her. There are also some interesting characters played by Jennifer Coolidge, Eddie Griffin, and Fred Willard.
DATE MOVIE
THE EXTRAS:
There are two commentaries. The first is with director/co-writer Aaron Seltzer and co-writer Jason Friedberg and the second commentary stars Alyson Hannigan, Adam Campbell, Sophie Monk and more.
“Anti-Commentary” by critics Scott Foundas and Bob Strauss – This commentary is a great concept but not such a great delivery. After about twenty minutes it starts to wear thin. It might have been funnier to have the critics sit with the cast and rip it apart.
12 deleted/extended/alternate scenes – It was hard to imagine anything was cut from Date Movie because it’s so bad. People always say “it couldn’t get any worse”—finally we have proof that it could have been worse.
“On Dating” – This is a funny featurette of cast interviews about their real dating stories.
Fox Movie Channel featurette “Making a Spoof” – A fluff piece.
Audition tapes – A featurette of cast auditions.
“The Quickie” – I have never seen a featurette where the entire film is shown in six minutes.
Finally, and for no apparent reason, there is an optional laugh track, Set-top game, and Andy’s poolside extended dailies.
FRANKLY: Date Movie is not the slapstick comedy it could have been. Save your cash and rent Airplane!
+ Charlie Craine
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