Review of Couples Retreat (2009) by Louis S — 11 Nov 2010

This wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be, but before I start this review, I will just be asking one question. Has Jason Bateman been taking Greg Kinnear lessons??? Seriously, couldn't you see him in Greg Kinnear's roles? I mean, I could see him as Richard Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine and definitely as Captain Amazing in Mystery Men. I could also see Greg Kinnear in the roles that Jason Bateman has been in these recent years, like Wally in The Switch and definitely this role. Just proof that as Greg Kinnear's star is falling, that of Jason Bateman is definitely rising. Anyway, enough of my ramblings, onto the review.

For those of you who don't know, this movie centres around four couples. Those four being:

Jason (played by Bateman) and Cynthia (Kristen Bell), a couple on the brink of divorce whose initial idea it is to go to this retreat. Why are they on the brink of divorce, you say? Hell, I don't know, something about infertility? And Jason Bateman being a controlling jackass? Well, that is the type of character he does best, and he's one of the few people that's actually funny in this movie. Kristen Bell does okay, but nothing spectacular, nothing above her usual romantic comedies.

Dave (Vince Vaughn) and Ronnie (Malin Akerman), a married couple with two children, one who pees in a home depot toilet. I don't know what that is about, I guess it's just a bit of scatological humour to keep the audience on their toes, I don't know, none of that even remotely makes sense or fits in with the story. They go to the retreat with their friends and they appear to not have any marital problems, their relationship being the most normal of all four relationships in this movie. In terms of performances, these two aren't bad, but aren't terribly good either. All in all, just wooden, stereotypical married rom-com characters.

Shane (played by Faizon Love), a recently divorced man, and his twentysomething girlfriend Trudi (played by Kali Hawk). Shane and Trudi are as wooden as Vaughn and Akerman, and while they are at the singles side of the resort (I'll explain later in the review), Shane runs into his ex-wife Jennifer, and lets Trudi have fun and be twenty as opposed to being tied down to someone like him, and he gets back together with his ex-wife.

And finally, Joey (played by Jon Favreau) and Lucy (played by Kristin Davis), childhood sweethearts who married right out of high school due to teenage pregnancy...i think. Well, they have a daughter named Lacey to show for it, so I'm simply assuming. Their marriage is a complete wreck because they never experienced single life outside high school seeing as they....well..... married right after it. They are having some problems with dissatisfaction, but they come together at the end. Jon Favreau is probably the funniest person in the movie, but he's Jon Favreau, so that's kind of expected.

All the couples are friends and they go to the couples retreat together. Eden West (the couples side) and Eden East (the singles side) are not allowed to comingle and the couples side has strict rules and couples councilling is mandatory, much to the chagrin of everybody but Jason and Cynthia. Trudi begins to bore of the couples side and she wants to escape to the singles side and party. Cynthia and Lucy decide to follow her and Cynthia finally stands up to her controlling husband and their relationship is restored. Turns out, all the couples councilling was not necessary and all it took was a trip to the singles side to rejuvenate their respective relationships.

If you're a......

Kid- skip this movie because it is not made for children.

Single, childless average moviegoing male- skip it.

Single, childless average moviegoing female- depends on your personal tastes.

Couple- depends on your personal tastes.

Fans of any of the actors in this movie- see any of them in their other movies. Here are some examples of better movies they have been in.

Vince Vaughn- Wedding Crashers.

Jon Favreau- not sure, but he directed iron man 2 (correct me if I'm wrong).

Kristin Davis- the godawful Sex and the City movies.

Malin Akerman- Watchmen.

Faizon Love- have no idea.

Kristen Bell- any of the other shitty rom-com's she's been in, or the upcoming feature Burlesque.

Jason Bateman- Juno, even the switch.

All in all, not nearly as bad as I thought it would be, but still not very good. Very predictable and cliched.