It is hard to rein in one's anger when it comes to dealing with the hassles of flying and other forms of public transportation. First, there's the high price of formerly free conveniences. Second, the incivility of passengers crammed into seats that do not have enough leg room. You must be constantly vigilant so that others don't bump you as they squeeze by in the aisle; so they don't knock you in the head loading their luggage; so they don't smash your kneecaps shoe-horning themselves into the seat beside you. Then there are the inveterate talkers or the people who travel with colds, flu, or pneumonia and have never been trained to cover their mouths while sneezing and hacking. Finally, there are the measures taken by the airlines to protect us from terrorists: the baggage checks, removal of shoes, and security checks. Having fun, yet? What used to be fun is now a nightmare.
Due Date, which opens in an airport and then moves aboard a plane, taps into our common rage about the inconveniences, humiliations, and stupidities of flying. Architect Peter Highman (Robert Downey, Jr.) is on his way from Atlanta to Los Angeles where his wife (Michelle Monaghan) is about to give birth to their first child. At the airport he meets Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis), a wannabe actor who, at age 23, is an infant with gross emotional needs — especially since the death of his father, the only man on earth with enough love and patience to be around his son for any lengthy period of time. Ethan's clumsy and irritating ways aboard the plane incite Peter's anger, resulting in them both being kicked off the plane and banned from flying. When the architect loses his wallet, he has no choice but to drive across the country with Ethan.
Ethan is laid-back and very lethargic, while Peter is aggressive and energetic. Ethan smokes marijuana to treat his glaucoma, and Peter has rage issues; even his wife criticizes his lack of control. On the road, Ethan stops to pick up some dope from a Birmingham home grower (Juliette Lewis). They drop by Dallas to chat with Peter's best friend (Jamie Foxx). They visit the Grand Canyon where Ethan dumps the ashes of his father — which have been stored in a coffee can. Then a screw-up lands them in trouble in Mexico.
Todd Philips (The Hangover) directs Due Date, painting convincing portraits of two archetypal males: the control freak who desperately needs anger management classes, and the Peter Pan who has trouble communicating. These two push each other's buttons, but it is the selfish and nasty Peter who seems to have some of his rough edges shaved off during this marathon journey. At one point, the aspiring actor tells him: "You'd better check yourself before you wreck yourself."
Special feature on the Theatrical Edition of the DVD is a Gag Reel.
