Downey Jr. Joins Zach Galifianakis in Todd Phillips’ Due Date

Posted by David Baxter (dbaxter@filmschoolrejects.com) on July 25, 2009

Robert Downey Jr in Iron Man

Entertainment Weekly slipped out a little nugget of news last night that makes me very happy – Robert Downey Jr. has seemingly signed on to co-star in Todd Phillips’ next project Due Date. Not excited yet? That’s Todd Phillips who directed The Hangover, oh and breakout star of that film, Zach Galifianakis, is also on board.

Pause while I do a little dance/get down tonight.

This small casting tidbit has cruised this up my must-see list and I can quite confidently say I think this will be one of the funniest films of next year. Too soon I hear you say? Well I’ll just briefly give a plot overview that will hopefully have you won over – Downey plays a soon-to-be dad who must rush cross country, with his unexpected friend Zach Galifianakis, to see the birth of his first child. EW said expect Trains, Planes and Automobiles with Downey in the Steve Martin role. Now that’s a film I want to see.

Its great to see Todd Phillips get a lot of kudos these days, he has been crafting great comedies for quite a few years, stand-outs being Old School and Starsky and Hutch, so it’s good to see him being ‘in demand’. We all know this is the case because Hollywood moguls have seen the dollars roll in for The Hangover, but I hope they also realize it wasn’t luck, The Hangover is one of the funniest films I’ve seen in years and Galifianakis in particular blew me away, he will no doubt whatsoever be the next breakout star in comedy. Obviously we all know what dry wit to expect from RDJ, his career resurgence has been astronomical and I would happily have him be a requisite for all films.

Filming could begin in the fall, giving this a ‘due date’ of early summer, which Phillips has shown can be a gold mine. If we’re that close though, expect the rest of the cast to be filled in soon. Although with these two as the leads you could pad it out with Rosie O’Donnell and Roseanne Barr and I’d still be excited as all hell.

What do you think? Great comedic team-up?


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  • James
    Let's not forget that when Phillips' has bigger names at his disposal, the comedy isn't quite as on-the-ball as when he works with the little people.

    Contrast Road Trip and Old School with School for Scoundrels and Starsky and Hutch, and you'll see what I mean. Not arguing that the casting for this sounds awesome, but Downey Jnr definitely counts as a big name - and we all know that no-one in Hollywood is immune from repeating past mistakes.
  • A) Starsky and Hutch is awesome, and B) Robert Downey Jr. can do no wrong. For these reasons any misgivings I had or could have are gone.
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