Due Date

To me, this movie epitomizes the word "conflicted." To watch Robert Downey Jr. is to watch a thoroughbred in its prime. On the other hand, Zach Galifianakis.... What can I say? My distaste for this guy over-shadows every scene he inhabits. The characters he chooses to portray are invariably selfish, immature, impractical, impetuous and repugnant ...almost impossible for me to watch. Of course if you want to know how I REALLY feel about him, you'll have wait until I make up my mind.

This is a classic road picture with a couple of wildly disparate characters enmeshed in a frantic dash from Atlanta to the West Coast...think "Planes, Trains and Automobiles." Although this is primarily a two-person flick, we see:

• Robert Downey Jr. ("Iron Man") is an architect who has to arrive in time to lend his support to his wife, played by...
• Michelle Monaghan ("Eagle Eye") for a scheduled C-section which will deliver their first child.
• Gus Galifianakis ("The Hangover") is the fly in the ointment, a would-be actor on his way to Hollywood, whose drug use causes confusion, pain, inconvenience and otherwise makes their cross-country trek a living hell.
• Juliette Lewis ("Conviction") is the drug dealer on their first detour.
• Danny McBride ("Tropic Thunder") runs a storefront check-cashing enterprise.
• Jamie Foxx ("The Soloist") is Downey's successful friend who finally steps in and makes the last leg of their journey possible.
• A coffee can of human ashes. Yeah, that's what I said!

Even with Downey in the lead (he gets handsomer and more appealing with every appearance), the absurd plot sinks further and further into parody. Cartoonish car wrecks; amazingly impossible stunt driving; physical mayhem which leaves Downey's character with a bloody nose, a broken arm, cracked ribs and multiple bruises; an ugly masturbating dog (yeah, you read that right!); compounded with supposedly funny drug use, just don't do it for me.

I love road pictures, I love Robert Downey Jr., and I love comedies, but this one I just can't love!