Is a classic case of talented performers rising waaaay above the material. What could have been a unbearable hour and a half on poorly executed comedy and gangster violence is made a mildly enjoyable, albeit far-from hilarious experience. It's a shame that Carrell and Fey couldn't have written this film too. They make such a believable "normal" couple, that it's a shame the writing couldn't have been more up to their standards. That said, they're perfectly engaging and fun to watch, even when a lot of the film is just the two of them panicking. The rest of the cast fare reasonably well, though there are plenty of missed opportunities in the segment involving James Franco and Mila Kunis. Taraji P. Henson doesn't get too much to do other than be skeptical. However, credit should go to Josh Klausner for managing to repeat the gag of Mark Wahlberg's shirtlessness THREE times and managing to get a solid laugh each time. The car chase, though hampered by the man playing the taxi driver, is surprisingly fun too. The problem is that the humor is never quite in sync with the zaniness of the story, and effect of the film is muffled. After the opening, which highlights the lackluster nature of the Fosters' life, the humor never kicks into high enough gear, preferring to stammer out plot explanation and general explanation rather than find a way to weave something clever into all of this. It's not a total waste of talent or time, but just don't expect something on the level of Carrell and Fey's stellar TV comedies.
Grade: C+
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