Date Night

Tina Fey is a comic genius. She has the magic of Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett. Remember when she parodied Sarah Palin and won every liberal American's heart? She is in top form in Date Night.

With Steve Carrell, who pales by comparison to her enormous talent, Tina leads the way in a delightful romp that brings constant laughs. The pair are a riot. What should have been a romantic night out becomes a series of disasters. It's all there: a bit of slapstick, unlikely situations, and witty dialog.

Behind the comedy is a rather haunting theme: Is the couple still in love or simply bored with modern life? As Tina notes in her role as busy mother/wage earner, it's tough to light up like a lamppost at night after a hard day as "modern" woman.

Mark Wahlberg adds some comic moments as the hunk who never wears a shirt. And other sundry characters keep the mood light and frothy.

The only real weakness in the flick is a very slow start. The first fifteen minutes aside, once the couple begins their "date," the real fun begins. This reviewer would have preferred another male lead to replace Steve Carrell, who is just not quite there. Jim Carrey might have been perfect.

I'm not big on comedy, and one person's laugh is sometimes another person's woe. But this comedy works. So it's a grade of A for a very, very funny film experience.

Make a DATE with your significant other to see a light-hearted, spirited tale.