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Movie Review
Maybe we should all just retreat
Couples Retreat Review
4:00 pm Oct 11 - by Stephanie Ruiz – buzz Writer
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Couples Retreat
Buzz says:
MPAA Rating: PG-13Current Showtimes:
- 11:00am
- 1:30pm
- 4:00
- 7:00
- 9:30
It was 1993, on the set of Rudy when the budding relationship first began. Since then, we’ve had the pleasure of experiencing the evolution of said relationship. And now, after five films together, including 1996’s Swingers, we are still witness to the hilariously bromantic, movie-making duo that is Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn. In the new film Couples Retreat, the boys get the chance to team up yet again, this time to co-write and star in a comedy about a group of dysfunctional couples. While it may not come as a surprise, considering their last movie together was Four Christmases, it’s hard not to question what’s more unsettling: that the twosome starred in this movie or actually wrote it.
The plot of Couples Retreat is almost painfully straightforward. Jason (Jason Bateman) and Cynthia (Kristen Bell) are a career-driven couple feeling some pretty hefty strains as a result of their inability to get pregnant. The toll it’s taking on their marriage is leading them to consider divorce, but not before they’ve tested all their options. Thus, they discover Eden, a tropical paradise that holds the promise of potential reconciliation. So, with an unbelievably detailed PowerPoint presentation, the two manage to convince their friends to tag along and take advantage of a fantastic group rate. Although the three couples are initially reluctant to partake in what they feel is unnecessary couples skill-building, they soon learn that they may each have a few little problems of their own that need sorting out. Dave (Vince Vaughn) and Ronnie (Malin Akerman), at first sight seem like a relatively normal couple, but the chaos of kids and kitchen remodeling gets them thinking that a relationship that “works” just isn’t enough. Joey (Jon Favreau) and Lucy (Kristin Davis) are trapped in a loveless marriage, can’t stand the sight of each other, and are pretty much only happy when they’re cheating. Then there’s Shane (Faizon Love), who’s recently divorced, yet still clearly in love with his ex-wife, and who is finding some release by dating 20 year old Trudy (Kali Hawk). Enough said.
While Couples Retreat makes a worthy attempt at being a worthwhile comedy, the truth is it doesn’t quite hit the mark. The comedic situations themselves appear to have a difficult time targeting a particular age group; on the one hand we do see some intelligent humor that works because it’s just “so true”, but in other instances the comedy comes across as immature gross-out gags that would be better suited in the American Pie series. And while we would expect more from characters like Favreau and Vaughn, all we really get are a few good one liners here and there, and sadly, not much else.
I won’t call this movie a complete failure though. I did laugh quite a bit. Little Colin Baiocchi, who plays Vaughn’s and Akerman’s son, absolutely stole the show for me, and the couples’ yoga scene was probably one of the funniest scenes I’ve seen in a while. And, of course, I loved the cast. It’s a great mix that seemed to mesh pretty well, for me at least. But all that just wasn’t enough to make this movie for me. I didn’t mind the first half of this film so much; in fact, I was pleasantly surprised considering the negative reviews I had read prior to going to see it, but it just completely fell apart for me in the concluding scenes. Situations that could’ve taken advantage of numerous opportunities just fall flat as victims of cliché after drawn out cliché. The characters are all but forced into their rushed and thoughtless “happily ever afters,” erasing whatever credibility it had left to offer. I guess if you go into Couples Retreat, which really looked as though it was more fun to make than actually watch, with little or no expectations, you might not leave completely disappointed. As for the rest of you, wait until DVD; at least then we might get a blooper reel that’ll be slightly more exciting to watch.
Sound Off
Last post: Nov. 12, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Mark Pingul (unregistered user) said on Nov. 12, 2009 at 5:13 pm:
One main takeaway point that I think you fail to realize, Ms. Ruiz, is the complexity of the presented relationships. Let us remember that cliches are such because cliche work. They are well represented across audiences. With each of the couples represented in the film, the audience can easily identify with their respective situations. Granted the conflicts were resolved quite rapidly, but I believe the main idea is that relationships can be very cliche. I appreciate Mr. Favreau's and Mr. Vaughn's attempt at painting an accurate portrait of what a relationship between two lovers is. Thank you.