The latest comedy from Vince Vaughn and company is the romantic comedy, Couples Retreat (PG-13). In the film four couples venture to an all-inclusive resort that specializes in couple therapy. Needless to say hilarity ensues. Rounding out the cast is Kristen Bell, Jason Bateman, Kristin Davis, Malin Ackerman, Faizon Love and John Favreau.
Ryan: It's normally not a good sign when one has to make qualifying statements when describing a movie's value. But that's the case with Couples Retreat. It's just one of those films that if one's in the right mood for then it might satisfy one's tastes. But then again it might not. All in all I found Couples Retreat to be a mediocre rom-com that's entertaining at times but ultimately brings little to the table. I'll defend the film to the point that it is not as bad as many critics were making it out to be but it's certainly far from being a memorable movie as well.
Andy: It is entirely possible that Couples Retreat is the quintessential mediocre romantic comedy. It has four different couples to play around with, while putting them fantastically prefabricated “couples skill building” sessions. What follows is so predictable and cliché-ridden that it is at times tedious. This comes from the writing team that brought you 1996’s Swingers. While that film dealt in clichés as well, it had an urgency and a heart that is sorely lacking in Couples Retreat.
Ryan: What's frustrating about Couples Retreat is that it should have been a better film, especially considering the talent involved. Almost all the main actors involved in the film have had success with either comedies and/or romantic comedies. Consequently one would think that the talent in the movie would produce a strong film. But that's just not the case. The movie is not an outright mess but it lacks polish.
Andy: I agree that there were times where it felt like this could have turned into a much better movie, but it really feels uninspired from the writing right through the performances. It is not horrible. It does have a few pretty good moments. It is a really safe date movie. But it is not interesting, consistent, or funny enough to really be considered a success.
Ryan: Even though this is far from being anyone's best work in the film there were a few laughs in the movie. Vaughn's not on his A-game in the movie but he does deliver a few hits and his banter with Favreau still works. (But make no mistake—this movie is not Swingers or even Made for that matter). The normally solid Bateman doesn't really do a whole lot and it's hard to make any criticism (positive or negative) with the female contingency because they do not have a lot to work with. So what I'm saying is that Vince Vaughn can still make me laugh even in a movie that offers very little else.
Andy: The lack of material for the females does pose a problem as well. The movie is pretty clearly coming from the male point of view, which is fine, but it doesn’t really tell us anything remarkable or new about what it’s like to be a man in a difficult relationship. Instead the movie opts to try to please everyone, and if that’s the goal there should be more depth given to the female characters.
Couples Retreat is a little lazily executed, but could still work as an adequate date movie. Final grade: C-.
2 comments:
The film really had more potential but became lazy and quickly unraveled. I watched it on my phone through my employee subscription to DISH’s TV Everywhere and got the impression that someone thought they found an exact equation to create the perfect movie. Instead, they managed to turn a funny idea, perfect cast, and beautiful location into a movie that tried so hard it fell right on its face.
Yes I completely agree with the above comment about this movie. I do also thinks the same and find it an average movie. The potential of this movie was purely wasted.
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