Two For Tina

It was a big weekend for Tina Fey, hosting SNL while her movie Date Night opened at number one.

I found the film disappointing. Fey and Steve Carell are charming comedians, and the concept--a married couple get caught up in violence and intrigue one night in Manhattan--isn't bad. But before too long, the plot spins out of control, and the two get involved, often intentionally, in absurd schemes rather than acting rationally.

I realize comedy often comes from exaggeration, but wouldn't it have been better to base this story more in reality? The film spends its first act trying to set up a realistic situation, where a couple are getting a little tired of their humdrum existence. It even introduces the concept of potential divorce. Why not, once they get caught up in a dangerous web, have the two trying their best stay out of trouble, rather than putting on silly characters and being involved in ridiculous shootouts and car chases?

Meanwhile, Fey's appearance on SNL was most notable for the return of her Sarah Palin. She was fine the rest of the night, but this is what the audience came for.

Though the Palin routine was reasonably well-received, it just wasn't the same. Back in 2008, Palin was this new character on the scene, ripe for parody, and Fey was born to play her. Those bits were among the most memorable political material SNL ever did. Now, with Palin out of office (if still in the news), it seems more like they saw a chance to unload two years worth of old gags they thought they'd never get to do. With the timeliness gone, a lot of the spark was too.

PS Turns out the original forecast was optimistic.  Date Night finished behind Clash Of The Titans for the weekend crown. Maybe word spread by Sunday.