Date Movie Review

Cast: Alyson Hannigan, Adam Campbell, Eddie Griffin, Jennifer Coolidge, Fred Willard, Carmen Elektra, Sophie Monk, Tony Cox
Director: Aaron Seltzer
Screenplay: Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer
Genre: Comedy
Rated: M moderate sexual references
Running Time: 83 Minutes

Everybody Wants A Happy Ending

Synopsis:
The twisted minds of 2 of the six screenwriters behind "Scary Movie" - Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer - this time skewer the romantic comedy genre. The new film tells the story of the hopeless romantic Julia Jones (Alyson Hannigan), who has finally met the man of her dreams, the very British Grant Funkyerdoder (Adam Campbell). 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".

My Verdict:
Alyson Hannigan plays Julia Jones who begins 'Date Movie' as a 'Shallow Hal' character in 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' style. She yearns for true love, finds it in the family restaurant with Grant Funkyerdoder (Adam Campbell) but is challenged by Grant's "best man" and ex-girlfriend Andy (Sophie Monk) when Andy discovers that Julia and Adam plan on getting married. Thrown into this mix is a meeting with Grant's parents.

Focussing its storyline on a few very successful chick-flicks, there are just so many other movies 'Date Movie' parodies that it will test regular movie fans to notice them all and maybe that is one of the problems here. So much time is spent building a massive list of movies that are spoofed that the jokes actually presented seem rushed and at times too predictable.

It all gets very messy when the pet cat is seen using the toilet in a "Meet The Parents" scene and so when the ship is sinking up comes the toilet humour. But that's not to say it isn't funny, it's more a case of knowing when enough is enough and unfortunately the mark is overstepped too often. 50 million shots of a semi-clad Sophie Monk is over-stepping the mark, and yes, I am exaggerating, but we get the point after the first million shots.

Trying desperately to spoof as many date movies and plenty of other genres, 'Date Movie' becomes one long drawn-out wannabe comedy. Admittedly, some of the humour may well be genuinely funny, but it doesn't happen often enough when it's up against so much that is dreadfully unfunny which becomes this movie's biggest downfall. This is one desperate movie that will appeal to anyone who is after a no-brainer kind of movie.

Rating : *½

Christina Bruce