Review of Wanderlust (2012) by Maksim B — 23 Mar 2013

Colorful and and easy-going, Wanderlust is a mildly funny comedy with elements of romance and a huge ambitions. Not really a mass crow-pleasing comedy, due to its specific story, this movie is a decent winter delivery.

With a heavy hippie influence, Wanderlust is the story of an urban couple (Jennifer Aniston & Paul Rudd), which faces unemployment and tries to pull itself together. Somehow Rudd and Aniston found themselves in a post-modern hippie commune near Atlanta, which offers them a sort of ab escape from reality. Started as a comedy in which a young couple is searching for success, for finding again the path to it, Wanderlust smoothly transforms into a vibrant boy-wants-to-have-his-girl-back story. With sufficient funny moments, sharp dialogues and a glimpse of hippie insanity, this movie manages to keep the audience decently entertained.

The cast is probably the biggest contributor to the overall satisfying level of the movie. Director David Wain has assembled a memorable cast, in which every character is crazy in his/her own way and offers something different to discover in him or her. Surprisingly (to me at least), Paul Rudd is pretty solid in the leading role and the chemistry with Jennifer Aniston is actually very successful. Rudd is confused, vulnerable, yet the driving force within his family and his performance in Wanderlust is probably his best one since Knocked Up.

However, David Wain's movie has one big issue. Wanderlust has sufficient amount of funny scenes, which would put a smile on your face, but as a complete movie it lacks sharpness, big laughs and the story-telling is messy and far from being coherent.

In conclusion, Wanderlust is one of those comedies which are fine to be seen on a lazy winter Sunday, when one would like to see something perfectly forgettable, easy-going and with talented familiar cast.