BlackSheep
"Past Due"

to be found in Due Date aside from those few moments compared to the amount of heart in Planes, Trains and Automobiles. That movie has one of the most emotionally crippling endings ever, but it’s not really fair to compare the two on those terms. A lot of people are comparing the two films and citing Due Date as a cheap knock-off, but even though the two films share a common premise people are
neglecting the filmmaker’s style. John Hughes wasn’t a raunchy director; he wrote heartfelt, clever comedies like Planes, Trains, and Automobiles that have a touching ending. If anything Phillips isn’t known for heart-felt movies, he’s known for at times raunchy and increasingly crazy comedies, so we should be glad there’s any heart at all, much less that it works on screen. On top of that, is the concept of two men that hate each other travelling across the United States to make it home to one of their families really something we see that often? Personally, whenever I heard that Due Date was a lot like Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, I was relieved mainly because the latter is one of my favorite films of all time. It’s interesting to look at Due Date as a modern take on it. Without sounding snooty, it’s fascinating to see how close Robert Downey Jr. is to Steve Martin’s character, and how Zach Galifianakis reminds me a lot of the late John Candy. While there’s not an infamous musical scene like Mike Tyson’s “In The Air Tonight” from The Hangover, Due Date has a uniquely fun soundtrack. Ice Cube, Band of Horses, Barry Manilow, and of course Wolfmother accompany the film’s biggest moments and montages beautifully. When it comes down to it, the question really is, "Do you enjoy just being in the theater and having a great time with your friends?" If you at least think you'll answer yes, you can't beat Due Date in terms of sheer fun at the cinema. I know my friends and I had a blast seeing it, and were in tears multiple times throughout. It's the perfect pick me up for a bad day, and I can't wait to watch it again. All in all, you can’t ask for a more enjoyable film than Due Date. It’s perfect for a movie night with the adults of the family on Thanksgiving later this month, you’ll be hard-pressed to find more laughs this month in the cinema (although Harry Potter 7 looks like it might be the feel-good comedy of the Fall). Due Date isn’t a perfect movie, and not all of its jokes hit the bull’s eye, but it’s a hysterical film that actually surprised me quite a bit. In what’s usually a November movie drought as far as comedy goes, Due Date is a heck of a lot of fun backed by a heck of a lot of great comedic talent in one of the most surprisingly fun films of the year. Due Date is one heck of an adventure, it’s like taking a road trip with your best friend. Even on the detours and pit stops, you’re still having a heck of a fun time.
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