'Due Date' (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)
(Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Michelle Monaghan, Jamie Foxx, Juliette Lewis, et al / Blu ray+DVD / R / 2011 / Warner Bros.)
Overview: Expectant first-time father Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) looks forward to his new child’s due date five days away. As Peter hurries to catch a flight home from Atlanta to be at his wife’s side for the birth, his best intentions go completely awry when an encounter with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) forces Peter to hitch a ride with Ethan on a cross-country trip that will ultimately destroy several cars, many friendships and Peter’s last nerve!
Blu ray Verdict: 'Due Date' isn't a grand bit of comedy, in the vein of 'The Hangover,' though it tries. Instead, it's much smaller in scope, which actually has its benefits. The film concerns the stuck-up Peter Highman (Downey Jr.), struggling to make the birth of his child. Because of a misunderstanding on the airline, he is relegated to hitching a ride cross-country with Ethan Tremblay (Galifianakis).
Hi-jinks ensue!
Todd Phillips is retreading 'The Hangover' territory, but that's okay. If you can get past the lack of originality, 'Due Date' is actually quite enjoyable. Downey Jr. and Galifianakis have great chemistry, and both are masters at this sort of comedy. Michele Monaghan is grossly underused as Highman's wife, though it's great to see her and Downey Jr. reunited (remember KISS KISS BANG BANG?).
We also get supporting roles from RZA, Jamie Foxx, Danny McBride, Juliette Lewis, and Jon Cryer and Charlie Sheen (in one of the most desperate, yet funniest, tie-ins ever).
The result is a crude, yet memorable comedy with some genuine heart (like all great comedians, Downey Jr. and Galifianakis are both great at finding the emotional center of their characters) and a whole lot of laughs. It may not be a classic, but it'll keep you laughing for the whole journey. [DD] This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.77:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and this combo pack comes with the Special Features of:
Deleted Scenes
Action Mashup
Too Many Questions Mashup
Gag Reel
"Two and a Half Men" Sequence featuring Ethan Tremblay
www.duedatemovie.warnerbros.com/dvd
Trailer