Movie Primer: Couples Retreat

This is a short primer for the comedy Couples Retreat. The movie will take you along on vacation on October 9th. The trailer for this film can be found at http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/couplesretreat/

The Plot: A couple that is having trouble with their marriage decides to go to a retreat in a tropical paradise. Three other couples that are friends with them decide to go not for the therapy but for all the fun tropical activities. The hilarity begins when the couples find that the therapy is not optional and all the couples must examine their relationships in a paradise that is quickly becoming anything but a paradise.

Star Power: There is a lot of comedic talent involved in this movie. Vince Vaughn is partnered up with Malin Akerman who has been in multiple romantic comedies lately (like 27 Dresses and The Heartbreak Kid). Director and actor Jon Favreau gets the lovely Kristin Davis (of Sex in the City Fame) as his wife. While Jason Bateman plays opposite Kristen Bell (who was Sarah Marshall in Forgetting Sarah Marshall.) The final couple is played by Faizon Love (who has had roles in comedies like Elf and Ice Age 3) and Kali Hawk. Jean Reno rounds out the cast as the head of the retreat.

Behind the Screen: If Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau seem comfortable with the material because the two teamed up to write the script. Peter Billingsley directs the romantic comedy. You may not know this director by name but you would recognize him as Ralphie in the iconic Christmas Story. Bilingsley has only directed one other film, an indie project that he starred in called The Sacred Fire.

What to expect: The keys to good comedy are chemistry and timing. If the actors who are surviving mishaps through mishap can't react in amusing ways and delivers the lines, then the whole premise falls flat. The idea behind this movie is nothing new. You have the hot yoga instructor that is way to sexual, good old therapy humor and Vince Vaughn yelling about sharks. These all are fun premises but won't end up being very funny unless the actors can deliver. Thankfully there are some pretty funny people in the movie so it looks like this retreat will be amusing. Will it deliver the kind of laughs we got from The Hangover? I doubt it. The truth is that while this movie does look funny all the people involved are not really trying new things. We have all seen Vince, Jon and Jason Bateman do their thing and while its funny, it is far from fresh. This will be a decent film but not a riot of laughter.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0082526/
http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/couplesretreat/