In Date Night, husband and wife duo Steve Carell and Tina Fey spice up their everyday life with a series of enticing dates.
Over cinema’s long history, there have been innumerable on-screen dates, some good, some bad, some just plain ugly. Here we pick ten of the best...
10. Once Upon a Time In America (1984)
Sergio Leone’s sprawling, gangster epic might seem an unusual place for a great date, but Robert De Niro’s moment is a classic date moment, to start with, at least.
In a bid to win his childhood sweetheart, De Niro hires a waterfront restaurant during its off season and employs the full kitchen and waiting staff to serve just his table, cooking his date whatever he wants.
9. Before Sunrise (1995)
Here, we’re plumping for ladies’ favourite Before Sunrise, the romantic drama by Richard Linklater, in which Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy don’t do very much, bar meet on a train in Europe, and end up having an all night date.
8. Out of Sight (1998)
If ever an actor is suited to passing on some dating tips, it’s cinemas Mr Fox, George Clooney.
In Stewven Soderbergh’s excellent 1998 movie, he keeps things simple: buying a woman a drink having plenty of charming conversation and seeing where the night might end. All blokes should take a cue from Clooney on his and J-Lo’s date.
7. Say Anything (1989)
It’s back to the ‘80s for directorial debut from that master of nuance, Cameron Crowe, who pitches John Cusack together with lone Ione Skye. A mediocre student bids to win the heart of a valedictorian with a totally honest approach.
True, their date is not the most romantic occasion: a house party, but it’s more than memorable with the ‘key master’ and boozed up mascots causing chaos.
6. 9 1/2 weeks (1986)
Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger take things to another level in this famously steamy flick. The key date moment is of course the refrigerator scene, when this passionate duo works their way through an interesting dinner that doesn’t require crockery.
5. Rocky (1976)
Ice skating might have lost its glister since the heady days of the 70s and 80s, but back in the day it was the ideal date, and any sensible male will tell you why: the ice is an ideal place for some holding and body contact.
Rocky does himself proud with Adrian and skates into position a some of the coolest (in every way possible) movie dates of all time.
4. Superman: The Movie (1978)
You really should make use of all your attributes when wooing a member of the opposite sex, and Christopher Reeve has it nailed in director Richard Donner’s comic-book classic- Superman can fly.
True, any normal bloker would struggle to recreate Superman’s first date with Lois Lane, sweeping through the skies, but it’s certainly a top date that would please even the prickliest partner.
Sadly, even if we could mimic this trick, we’d still lack the super-sight to check out our date’s underwear.
3. Annie Hall (1977)
It’s hard to overlook Woody Allen and Diane Keaton in this classic tragic-comedy. A home-cooked meal is a great way to enjoy an intimate evening, although Woody and Diane’s choice of lobsters for dinner proves somewhat chaotic as the live crustaceans make their bid for freedom.
It’s a scene full of so much chemistry between the two actors, that it’s a true date classic.
2. Naked Gun (1988)
Leslie Nielson was on fire during the late ‘80s with a string of super spoofs, among 1988’s cop Mickey-take Naked Gun. Amid the chaos that the blundering detective unfolds, he enjoys a date with Pricilla Presley’s daughter Jane Spencer.
There’s the usual beach at sunset, and plenty of romantic trappings. Although when they take ‘safe sex’ to the limit with full-body condoms, it turns into a true comedy highlight.
1. Pulp Fiction (1994)
What it lacks in outright romance, it more than makes up for with flirting, wiseacre dialogue and some rather special dancing.
Trantino’s classic scene with John Travolta and Uma Thurman, is certainly an eventful night, and let’s not forget, a hypodermic needle to the heart.
Thurman and Travolta revel in some Tarantino sharpest-ever dialogue as they try to extinguish the sexual chemistry that sparks between their respective characters.
Date Night is in UK cinemas Wednesday 21st April
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