On Saturday afternoon, Courtney and I went on a date “night”, to go and see Date Night.  Sometimes afternoons are just easier, for us and our babysitter, Aunt Sami, what with her having a “life,” whatever that is.  Anyway, to be totally honest, we didn’t have the highest expectations going in, mainly because Steve Carell hasn’t been in a funny movie since The 40 Year Old Virgin.  Well, that streak has now come to an end, because Date Night was a very funny movie.

If you’ve seen a single ad for the movie, you already know the premise – a boring couple gets in over their heads on a date night in the city.  The concept may not be stellar, but works for the movie is its execution – Carell and Fey play a realistic, relatable couple, who have their own routines and pet peeves and games they play while they watch other couples.  The scenario they find themselves in – with corrupt cops, skeevy politicians, and wannabe thugs – may be outlandish, but the way they react to it all as a couple makes sense, and is done really well.  The fact that all of those characters are played really well by a very funny supporting cast certainly doesn’t hurt matters.  The scene with Mark Wahlberg is all over the commercials, but James Franco and Mila Kunis have a very funny scene as well.

As much as I love The Office and 30 Rock, this movie is NOT about Michael Scott and Liz Lemon, which I have to say is a good thing.  Those characters work in their respective shows, but as a happy married couple?  I don’t think people would buy it.  But their characters in this movie feel perfect, so good job to Steve Carell and Tina Fey!

But probably the funniest thing that happened *at* the movie had nothing to do with what was going on *in* the movie, and while this story is probably a prime example of “you had to be there,” I’ll give it a shot here anyway. After I had opened up a brand new bag of Peanut M&M’s – a large bag, mind you, not a small pack – Courtney leaned over to kiss me, and the whole bag spilled out.  On the floor.  Loudly.  For like, a minute.  And rolled, all the way down the theater floor.  Everyone was laughing, and no, there was nothing funny happening on screen at that particular moment.  When the movie ended and we were walking out, some kids behind us were talking about it, saying something like “The funniest part was when all those Skittles fell.  It sounded like it was raining!”  I don’t think Skittles would have been quite as loud as Peanut M&M’s, but I didn’t bother to correct him.  Needless to say, I think the lesson is clear: Don’t kiss in the dark while holding open bags of candy – it’s just not worth the potential loss of delicious chocolate.