By Andrew Benjamin

Spoofs have played an important part in cinema history. Following Airplane, one of the first spoof to hit theatres back in 1980, many have tried to copy the exact formula and style, with little success. Unfortunately, the same failings extend to Date Movie.

The plot (or lack thereof) centers on overweight Julia (Alyson Hannigan), a waitress at her father’s (Eddie Griffin) restaurant. She sets her eyes on handsome Englishman Grant Fonckyerdoder (Adam Campbell).After getting a makeover from Hitch (Tony Cox), Julia and Adam are ready to get married. However, an old flame of Grant will do just about anything to prevent their union..

The film is great for the first 40 minutes. It doesn’t try to create a plot, instead utilizing a series of comedic events strung together with little connection.

The film churns out spoof after spoof from movies like Bridget Jones’ Diary, Hitch and When Harry Met Sally.

Unfortunately, after these 40 minutes are up, the film falls on its backside. It goes from a mindless comedy (that is meant in a positive way), to a film that tries to have some importance. It fails terribly in this attempt at a quintessential love story, and at this point the jokes become bland and stale. The actors seem bored.

While at the beginning the acting was nothing to gush over, it seemed as though the actors were at least having fun with the material.

But by the end they’ve given up, realized nothing original is going to happen.

They spend the rest of the movie sleepwalking through their lines.

If you must see Date Movie, stay for the first third of the film. After that walk out.

(Chronicle Staff Photo)