“Dad… You were like a father to me.”
From the director of “Old School” and “The Hangover” comes yet another tale of stupidity and hijinx. For this one though, the big guns were brought out. Two-time Academy Award Nominee Robert Downey Jr. and the new “it” in the world of humor, Zach Galifianakis, team up in the classic sane and anything but duo comedy. The classic “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” type of film is a blueprint that has been used frequently in the world of film. Thus far it has not failed and so why not continue with the trend?
Downey plays a hot headed architect who is on his way back from a business trip on the east coast to be by his wife’s side as she delivers their first child. Upon arrival to the airport he has the displeasure of meeting Ethan Tremblay, played by Galifianakis. His immediate distaste for the man is evident, but as it was just a chance encounter he shrugs it off and attempts to calm down. Upon being seated on the plane, he quickly discovers that the man sitting behind him is the same person that aggravated him in the mere seconds they were together. Cue the highly unlikely situation that thrusts them into a road trip from hell. As Ethan continues to rant about how much he hopes there isn’t a terrorist aboard the plane, Peter (Downey) attempts to silence him before their fellow passengers notice. His effort is to no avail, however, as everyone begins to become anxious and eventually a U.S. Marshall gets involved and shoots Peter with a taser. The action was of course completely unnecessary but the scenario was enough to get both Peter and Ethan put on a no fly list. Without his wallet, or any form of currency, Highman must find a way to get across the country to his wife. In an obvious plot development, he decides to ride along with Ethan and his dog Sonny.
It is from there that the chaos and comedy begins. Now, there would be no movie if there were no sort of dilemmas along the way, of which include Galifianakis falling asleep at the wheel, Galifianakis needing to stop and get his fix of “medicine”, and Galifianakis smoking marijuana in the car as he drives causing Downey’s character to get arrested. You’ll immediately see a trend in my brief description of the plot, as Galifianakis’ character is the center of all of the problems throughout the film. It is a recipe for success that has yet to be proven wrong. This movie, in my opinion, develops someone that can truly be despised as the film advances. There is no real redeeming quality to be found in Tremblay, and the only thing that keeps the audience from outright hating the character is the tragedy that he has had to deal with.
The films humor is quite on the contrary as it is on point and leaves little to be hated. Two masters of their craft feed off of each other in just the right way and leave the audience with a lasting smile throughout. Robert Downey Jr. is one of the best actor’s in the industry today and he shows just how much depth he has in this raunchy, physical, and yet witty comedy. I may be a bit biased as one of my favorite actors is Downey, but I think that this movie is one that everyone that can appreciate crude humor should see. Those who cannot handle vulgarity, or a scene in which both Galifianakis and his dog masturbate in a car while Downey sits idly this movie is not up your alley.
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