Date Movie

Date Movie is a playful spoof that riffs on classic romantic comedies by tracking a young man who falls for a girl and tries to win her over while dodging the consequences of social misfires and meddling relatives. The film skewers clichés about first dates and parental approval, turning familiar scenes into comic set pieces. On his mission to impress the object of affection, the protagonist endures awkward encounters and a parade of misunderstandings that puncture movie romance with quick quips and visual gags. The energy stays breezy and funny, driven by brisk pacing and cameos that nod to familiar rom com moments, without taking itself too seriously.

Released in 2006, Date Movie was directed by Aaron Seltzer with a screenplay by Friedberg and Seltzer. Alyson Hannigan leads alongside Eddie Griffin and Sophie Monk in an original spoof lampooning rom com conventions.

With a budget of about 20 million dollars, Date Movie drew audiences worldwide and grossed roughly 85.7 million. The film performed solidly for a mid 2000s spoof, riding a wave of appetite for broad ensemble comedies and pop culture parodies.

Date Movie sits among the mid 2000s wave of spoof comedies that leaned on quick pop culture gags and celebrity cameos. It helped cement the notion that rom com clichés can be mined for rapid fire laughs, drawing praise from fans of parody while drawing mixed reactions from critics. Its approach echoed in later spoof sequels and became a touchstone for the era's crowd pleasers.

Critics were divided on the film, with some praising its brisk pace and affectionate send ups of romance while others dismissed it as repetitive. The movie treats dating as a sequence of bold declarations and awkward misunderstandings, exploring themes like expectations, family influence, and the comic fallout when partners misread intentions for fans of genre satire.