Due Date Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A grumpy dad-to-be and a pot-smoking actor drive across America, accidentally commit multiple felonies, and somehow become best friends forever.

🍿 Due Date: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Stranded in Atlanta

Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.), an uptight architect, is trying to get from Atlanta to Los Angeles in time for the birth of his first child. However, a series of unfortunate events involving aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) leads to Peter being kicked off the plane and placed on the ‘No Fly List’. Peter loses his wallet and luggage in the process, leaving him stranded.

The Unlikely Road Trip

With no other options, Peter reluctantly accepts a ride from Ethan, who is traveling to Hollywood with his dog Sonny to pursue his acting dreams. Ethan is also carrying his father’s ashes in a coffee can, intending to scatter them at the Grand Canyon. The duo embarks on a chaotic and often disastrous road trip across the country.

Misadventures Along the Way

Their journey is filled with comical mishaps, including encounters with a drug dealer (Juliette Lewis), a confrontation with a disabled veteran (Danny McBride), a car crash, and an accidental border crossing into Mexico. Peter’s frustration grows as Ethan’s antics constantly delay and complicate their progress towards Los Angeles. Ethan’s often inappropriate behavior pushes Peter to his breaking point.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.): A high-strung architect and expectant father desperately trying to get to Los Angeles in time for his child’s birth.
• Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis): An aspiring actor and man-child whose antics inadvertently derail Peter’s travel plans, forcing them on a cross-country road trip.
• Sarah Highman (Michelle Monaghan): Peter’s pregnant wife, anxiously awaiting his arrival in Los Angeles for the birth of their child.
• Darryl (Jamie Foxx): Peter’s friend who briefly provides assistance and transportation, adding complications to the journey.
• Heidi (Juliette Lewis): A drug dealer who sells marijuana to Ethan, leading to further mishaps and delays on their road trip.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Ethan Tremblay: “Dad… You were like a father to me.” – Ethan says this to the can of his father’s ashes, highlighting his quirky and somewhat absurd personality.
• Peter Highman: “I despise you at a cellular level.” – Expresses Peter’s intense frustration and dislike for Ethan throughout their journey.
• Ethan Tremblay: “I have glaucoma.” – Ethan’s frequent excuse for smoking marijuana, showcasing his obliviousness and Peter’s growing exasperation.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $65,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $100,539,043
• Worldwide Gross: $211,780,824

💥 Due Date Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, ‘Due Date’ is a mixed bag. I laughed, I cringed, and I definitely questioned some of the plot choices. Zach Galifianakis is hilarious, but sometimes it feels like he’s just doing the same character he always does. There were moments that were laugh-out-loud funny, like the coffee can incident. Overall, it’s a fun movie to watch when you want to switch off your brain, but it’s not a cinematic masterpiece. It’s worth watching once.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of road trip comedies”
  • “Viewers who enjoy Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis”
  • “Audiences who appreciate absurd humor”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong language”
  • “Drug use”
  • “Suggestive humor”
  • “Some violence”

Professional Reviews

• Indiewire: “Despite the talent involved, ‘Due Date’ feels like a missed opportunity, relying too heavily on tired road trip tropes and failing to deliver consistent laughs.
• Rotten Tomatoes: “Critics Consensus: Due Date has moments of inspired lunacy, but it’s often undone by director Todd Phillips’ reliance on crude gags and unlikeable characters.
• Rolling Stone: “Downey and Galifianakis have funny chemistry, they just play off each other perfectly. Like The Hangover it is one entertaining misadventure. Despite its flaws, the duo’s comedic timing makes it watchable

Audience Reactions

Galifianakis’s quirky performance stole the show with over-the-top antics: Many viewers enjoyed the comedic pairing of Downey Jr. and Galifianakis.

Some of the scenes, although intended to be funny, came off as offensive or uncomfortable: The movie struggled to balance humor with heart

Overall Consensus: ‘Due Date’ is a polarizing comedy. While some find it hilarious due to the actors’ chemistry, others criticize its crude humor and weak plot.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Alan Arkin filmed scenes as Peter’s (Robert Downey Jr.’s) long-lost father, but they were cut from the final film.”
• “The film shares a similar premise to ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles,’ but with a more modern and raunchy comedic style.”

🖥️ How to Watch Due Date?

Due Date is available for rent or purchase on various platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your preferred streaming service for availability and pricing.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Due Date, you might like these similar films:

• Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987): A classic road trip comedy featuring two mismatched characters forced to travel together, setting the standard for the genre.
• The Hangover (2009): Also directed by Todd Phillips and starring Zach Galifianakis, known for its raunchy humor and outrageous situations.
• Get Him to the Greek (2010): Features a similar dynamic of a straight-laced character escorting a wild and unpredictable personality across the country.
• Road Trip (2000): Another raunchy and chaotic road trip comedy with a group of friends encountering outrageous situations on their journey.

🛒 Due Date Related Products

• Due Date [Blu-ray]: Watch Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis in high definition with bonus features including behind-the-scenes footage and deleted scenes. Experience this comedy road trip in the best possible quality from your home.
• Coffee Can: Coffee Can replica as seen in the movie. A great conversation starter for any fan of the film. This replica coffee can serves as a humorous reminder of the movie’s plot points, perfect for fans who appreciate the quirky humor.
• Two and a Half Men: The Complete Series: Ethan Tremblay’s obsession! Relive every episode of the hit TV show featuring Charlie Sheen and Ashton Kutcher with all seasons available on DVD. Enjoy hours of entertainment filled with funny moments and quirky characters.
• Planes, Trains, and Automobiles [Blu-ray]: Planes, Trains and Automobiles movie which shares some common themes and story arcs with “Due Date”. It is widely regarded as a comedic classic and features the legendary duo of Steve Martin and John Candy. It’s an excellent pick for anyone who enjoys road trip comedies with a mix of humor and heart.

🎧 Soundtrack

Due Date features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Hold On I’m Comin'” – performed by Sam & Dave

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Due Date movie review

Want to know what a renowned critic thinks of ‘Due Date’? Check out Jeremy Jahns’ review for his take on the movie’s humor, chemistry between the leads, and overall execution.

Due Date Bloopers

Curious about the off-screen antics of the ‘Due Date’ cast? These bloopers offer a hilarious look at the fun and mishaps that happened during filming.

✨ Rate