Supanick with Eclectic Style Staff Writer
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The RetrIever Weekly 04.13.10 ARTS 11 Fey and Carrell’s chemistry Senior Dance makes Date Night a must see Showcase delights Daniel Supanick with eclectic style STAFF WRITER The pairing of comedic superstars is students had to answer what they not an uncommon gimmick in the film Ingrid Garcia loved the most. Surprisingly cute, not industry. Putting two very talented and STAFF WRITER demolishingly nauseous. This piece was funny performers in one film implies that definitely a crowd-pleaser. It also had it will be twice as hilarious as one with Graduating Senior Dance Majors six dancers on the stage, all perfectly only one of these performers in it. The presented their hard work on April synched, on beat. It was a quick-paced only problem with this phenomenon, 9th and 10th in the Fine Arts building, dance, the lyrics singing out don’t be though, is that sometimes this equation room 317, at 8 p.m. A glaring red afraid, it’s just love, being matched with for success doesn’t add up, and the film backdrop greeted the audience as 100 the quick yet sharp fluid movement of ends up being a dud. Thankfully, Date black seats were set up in the back of the dancers. Night, the vehicle for sitcom stars Steve the dance studio. A couple of people Well thought out, one of the audience Carell and Tina Fey, is not one of those were fanning themselves with the members squeaked to their neighbor films. program. While the Ra, Ra, Ras of once the piece was done, what was so Date Night had the potential to be Lady Gaga entertained the audience cute. a mediocre film. Its script isn’t exactly before the start of the show, many a Intermission followed. The second to great, and elements of it sometimes fall person lied hunched over reading their last piece titled Morning Bell showcased flat or aren’t really taken advantage of. programs. the relationship between teachers and What makes the film work though is the Five pieces comprised the almost one students. Two dancers entered the chemistry between its stars. Carell and hour and ten minutes of the concert. stage, giggling with each other, flipping Fey are almost completely convincing as One senior choreographer for each the magazine pages in their hands while Phil and Claire Foster, a married couple piece, all with impressive background their teacher entered from the side, looking for a new spark in their worn work in various studios, and most scowling and dismissing the magazine. coupling. graduating in the upcoming month. The dancers played the role quite well, In a way, Date Night is something of a The first piece was titled Yeess, a touch of simplicity yet delicacy with tribute to marriage. In the film, we watch choreographed by Joshua Barnard. The the role-playing. Piano notes filled the a couple, tired of the day-to-day existence performers wore different variations of dark space of the studio, only to be they’ve gotten used to, who suddenly red colored tops and steel gray shorts replaced by claps from the crowd. have a giant obstacle thrown in front of or pants. They moved so fast at times Never Have I Ever was the last them. Like any good married couple, that it was a red spinning movement piece performed for the night. It was they face it head on and use whatever of auburn hair with pointed toes. extremely chic, bold, and it jolted every they bring to the table to get through it. COURTESY TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX They danced to ‘90s music, such as energetic inch of the audience. It was a It just so happens that the obstacle the Tina Fey and Steve Carrell have all sorts of unfortunate hijinks occur while in “Wonderwall” by Oasis, the Fresh Prince breathtaking approach to a group of girls Fosters face is the mob. In such a tribute, pursuit of a quiet Date Night. of Bel Air theme, and “Smells Like Teen on a night out and then the dramatic, if the stars don’t work as a couple, then for small parts of the film and are never very minor role. She brings nothing to Spirit” by Nirvana. Jumps, whirls, remorseful next day. Club dresses and the film falls flat. Luckily, Carell and really given time to make a real impact the film, and her being there is just very and extended hands entertained the quick, sparkly fun marked the first half Fey are not only funny together, but on the audience. Thankfully, though, distracting. It’s cameos like Olivia Munn’s audience for a pleasing ice-breaker as of the performance, one fun night, and absolutely convincing as a couple. Their Carell and Fey rescue the film from that hurt the film, and weigh it down the first piece came to an end. then the dancers all laid on the purple bickering, worrying, and comforting all completely suffering under these faults. more than the filmmakers probably Lying on the ground, the three couch in the corner. The second half seems genuine, and is never overplayed. Most of the film revolves around their intended them to. performers were lit up by the red beams started off with classic music, as one The film itself, however, isn’t so characters, and it allows them to keep Overall, though, the film is worth from above as they stretched their arms lone dancer slowly turned, staring at strong. Date Night is directed by Shawn a certain interest level surrounding their seeing if for nothing but Steve Carell and slowly and gracefully signalled the her hands and her arms, as the rest Levy, the man behind such family fare characters. Tina Fey’s performances. Their rapport beginning of the second piece titled of her friends woke up, stretched and as the Cheaper by the Dozen films, the The film is also plagued by something feels real, and quite endearing at times. Identify. looked at their crumpled dresses. Then Night at the Museum films, and the Pink many recent comedy films seem to Their chemistry together makes the They wore matching purple tops as each electronic beat went off, the Panther remake. His direction here isn’t be hurting from, and that is too many film, and quite possibly creates one of and black shorts. Movements were dancers flung themselves upwards and far from his comfort zone, and at some cameos from other big-name actors. the most joyful screen-couples comedic controlled, slow and passionate as performed quickly in unison. A sparkly points he lays schmaltz a bit too liberally, Such performers are littered through out filmmaking has seen in a long time. they circled the stage, leaning, with jilt to the senses with a romantic touch. which doesn’t particularly sit well with the film, and while at some points the Carell and Fey work together so well that shoulders rolling slowly backwards as Loved it! the more dangerous elements of the film. appearances work within the film, some whenever they speak to each other from they presented the choreography. Truly If you missed out on these two He knows what he has, though, in Carell come off as distracting. For example, at their hearts, it feels real, and they feel like elegant. performances, then please, try to catch and Fey, and is wise to let them go their one point, James Franco and Mila Kunis a real married couple. Even if the rest of Never have I attended a dance up on the magnificent work that the own way rather than direct them beyond show up as a couple that Carell and Fey Date Night isn’t exactly perfect, its two concert and seen a pause in the dancing. UMBC Department of Dance creates character details. are trying to find. They are very funny core players almost are, and in a film that The dancers turned their backs toward every semester. Upcoming events: First One of the film’s problems is its script. in their roles, and also manage to bring serves as a tribute to the institution of the audience as a short video was Works Concert, April 30 at 8 p.m. and The dialogue doesn’t have much of a something to the film. Mark Wahlberg marriage, isn’t that exactly what should projected in the background. Multiple Spring Dance Showcase May 6th, 7th, spark, and the characters are written is also very funny as a former client of work? UMBC students were interviewed and 8th at 8 p.m. very blandly. Many of the film’s jokes feel Fey’s character. On the other hand, quickly to describe what they thought forced, and fall flat. Some characters who there is another point in the film where Comments may be sent to love was; later another moment similar Comments may be sent are meant to be important only show up Olivia Munn, who shows up in a very, [email protected]. to that arose again in the piece, where to [email protected]. KICK ASS [R] star cast in a film about two brothers trying to Banksy should make it all the more g In this comic book adaptation, Aaron Johnson, to sift through the insanity of their father’s interesting. in Chloe Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and funeral. While I’ve heard many a good thing m Nicholas Cage play superheroes with no pow- about the original British film, this looks more THE JONESES [R] o like a watered-down version of it. Even its C to theaters ers who start a superhero craze when they In what is the fourth R-rated release of the trailer played bit-for-bit like the British film’s start taking down crime.