Review: Due Date (15)

Todd Phillips, director of last year's smash hit comedy The Hangover, reunites with scene-stealing actor Zach Galifianakis but, alas, lightning doesn't strike twice.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Nov 2010, 10:51 BST
Updated 5th Nov 2010, 10:56 BST

Robert Downey Jr plays expectant father and workaholic Peter Highman, who keeps in touch with his pregnant wife Sarah (Michelle Monaghan) via his omnipresent mobile phone.

With her waters expected to break in only a few days, Highman prepares to fly home for the birth. However, when there's a bag mix-up with fellow passenger and aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Galifianakis), both men are thrown off the flight. Highman reluctantly accepts a lift from Tremblay and a ridiculous road trip ensues.

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Four screenwriters attempt to marry slapstick with soul-searching, dealing awkwardly with bereavement and the fear of impending parenthood as the film journeys towards an obvious emotional crescendo.

Not even the impeccable comic timing of Galifianakis and co-star Downey Jr can spark the dull dialogue to life or compel us to care about the two mismatched men as they career from one outrageous misfortune to the next.

The only thing Due Date delivers is 95 minutes of missed opportunities.

On general release