A parody film that critics labeled one of the worst movies ever made
In short: Released in 2006, Date Movie attempted to lampoon the romantic comedy genre through a barrage of pop-culture references and gross-out humor. Despite being panned by critics and frequently cited as a cinematic low point, the film proved to be a surprising commercial success, earning millions at the global box office.
Written and directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, Date Movie was designed as a rapid-fire spoof of popular romantic comedies like My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Hitch. The plot follows Julia Jones, who undergoes a makeover to win the heart of Grant Funkyerdoder. The narrative is punctuated by chaotic sequences, including a reality television dating show where contestants are eliminated by gunfire and a wedding planner who performs provocative dances in gold spandex.
The critical reception was overwhelmingly negative. Reviewers criticized the film for its reliance on juvenile humor and lack of genuine wit. On Rotten Tomatoes, only 7% of 88 critics provided positive reviews, and Metacritic assigned it a score of 11 out of 100. Some critics, such as Scott Tobias, noted the irony of a comedy that failed to produce a single laugh, while others, like Pete Vonder Haar, famously walked out of the screening early. Despite this, the film earned $84.8 million against a $20 million budget.
The film's legacy is largely defined by its poor reputation. It was ranked 77th on Rotten Tomatoes' list of the 100 worst-reviewed films of the 2000s and received multiple accolades for its failures, including awards for Worst Screenplay and Most Painfully Unfunny Comedy at the 2006 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards. Carmen Electra also earned a Golden Raspberry Award for her performance. While it failed to impress critics, the home media release saw over one million units sold, highlighting a stark divide between critical consensus and commercial performance.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Date Movie
- Also: Wikidata — Date Movie · CC0
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