Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr. - left) discovers the road trip partner from hell, Ethan Tremblay ( Zach Galifianakis)

Written by

Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

By now everyone who loves comedy knows Zach Galifianakis the hairy, pot bellied; ‘slow’ brother in law in the monster hit the ‘Hangover.’ His reddish, grizzly beard is so out of place in his insanely funny child like persona. What makes ‘The Hangover’ such a big deal was that it was both a hit in the box office and the critics. It won a Golden Globe in the Best Motion Picture, Musical or comedy category and also picked up a Best Screenplay nod (John Lucas and Scott Moore) at the BAFTA. The film earned 277 million dollars in ticket sales and took only 35 million to produce. Entertainment news sites and channels are already a buzz with the casting and shooting of ‘Hangover2.’

Robert Downey Jr.

In ‘Due Date’, Zach is paired with ‘Ironman’ Robert Downey Jr. who has had a lot of experience in the comedy genre himself. Most recently he showed his comedic talents in ‘Tropic Thunder’. And he has had a long list of comedies that he has been known for.

In ‘Heart and Souls’ he was able to talk, walk and show different personalities or souls who inhabit his body: an African American mother, an Italian gang member, a middle aged school teacher etc. Downey has also played Charlie Chaplin in the bio pic on one of the greatest comedians on film.

This time however, he plays the straight man to Zach. The difference in each of their styles of making people laugh is apparent. Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) is an expectant father desperately trying to get to the birth of his first child. Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) is an aspiring actor whose father recently passed away. Ethan manages to get on Peter’s nerves and get them off a plane. After nearly rubbing his hairy belly in Peter’s face, Ethan insists that he put away his cell phone before take off. Peter’s anger management issues surface and the two of them are booted out for causing a disturbance. The two are put on the ‘no-fly list’ and are forced to go to Los Angeles through a car rental. After losing his wallet Peter is forced to take the offer of Ethan to drive with him cross country.

Juliette Lewis plays Heidi the pot dealer

‘Due Date’ is another buddy / road film that is a sure fire hit. Jamie Foxx has a brief role as Peter’s ‘normal’ friend from way back. Rapper RZA is an airport screener. ‘Sonny’ is Ethan’s adorable small bull dog that Peter can’t stand. Director Todd Philips who made both the Hangover and Due Date gave himself a brief cameo. As part of the perks of being director he cast himself as the lover of Heidi who is played by the sexy Juliette Lewis. Philips also gave himself a cameo in Hangover as a guy caught giving ‘head’ to his girlfriend in an elevator. Just like the Hangover there are a lot of sick jokes, specifically about masturbation.

Zach and Rob at the Due Date premiere

A majority of the gags are also on marijuana usage. The timing is interesting and may be connected to the referendum on the legalization of marijuana in California. The gags may be all in good fun but it may also have a negative effect on the polls showing the state of mind of ‘pot heads’. The material is eerily similar to the real life pattern of overweight comics who reached superstardom only to die in a drug overdose. Famous comics like John Belushi and Chris Farley were ‘Saturday Night Live’ legends who died from a combination of alcohol and cocaine. Belushi made the ‘Blues Brothers’ movies in the eighties with Dan Aykroyd, while Farley had a string of hit films in the nineties with David Spade.

Let’s hope that Zach Galifianakis won’t spin out of control and get into a path of self destruction the way Belushi and Farley did. He’s on his way to making more movies and making more people laugh and appreciate his unique brand of humor. In ‘Due Date’ we see him more as an actor; he does his impression of Marlon Brando (as Don Corleone). He easily cries in a pretend scene with Julia Roberts, because he’s dying of cancer. There’s no question that Galifianakis has talent and loads of it. He happens to be a skilled piano player and often incorporates it in his stand up routine.

Ken Jeong on the cell was Zach's Leprachaun in the Hangover. The monkey on the right stars in Due date

Robert Downey Jr. himself has had his problems with alcohol and cocaine having been arrested and spent jail time after failing to go through rehab. He has since cleaned himself up and has revived his career with recent blockbusters. Rob was part of the notorious brat pack of actors that included Charlie Sheen. Sheen is now part of the hit series “Two and a Half Men”, whom Ethan idolizes in ‘Due Date.’