Couples Retreat

Genre : DVD ( DVD )
Release : 2010/02/09
Price : $17.99

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Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau team up after their '90s career-making hit, Swingers, to write and costar in Couples Retreat, a romantic comedy that's heavy on the satire, but is also knowing and wry, as Swingers is at its best. Vaughn and Favreau are joined in the top-notch cast by the always engaging Kristin Bell (whose appearance with Vaughn, in a romantic tropical setting, may remind viewers of Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Jason Bateman, Kristin Davis (Sex and the City), Faizon Love, and Jean Reno. Fans of romantic comedies, and comedies of manners, will be delighted at the snappy interaction among the actors, and the zingers delivered by the script.

"You are not buying some 20-year-old broad a motorcycle!" yells Vaughn's character, Dave, to Love's character, Shane, who's having an early midlife crisis. "She's a kid! Buy her a Hello Kitty book!" Turns out that all the couples in Dave and Shane's circle are having issues, and decide to take a group tropical vacation. Ah, but there's a catch: the island getaway comes with mandatory couples counseling and bonding events. Most of the film's laughs come from cringe-worthy fish-out-of-water moments, though there are some pretty great fish-in-water moments, too: Dave begins to panic during a test involving swimming with sharks. "It's time to get the gun, and shoot some fish!"

Reno is also a standout, as the unctuous New Age-y director of the retreat, fearless in spewing half-nonsense yet having the almost admirable courage to stand behind his convictions. The film was directed with a light hand by Peter Billingsley, who starred as young Ralphie in A Christmas Story, and who has acted with Vaughn in Four Christmases and The Break-Up. And somehow, among the lunacy and the beauty of nature, friends and soulmates may just find the way back to each other. Just steer clear of the Jet Skis. --A.T. Hurley

Most might think my two-and-half rating is quite scathing and therefore, think poorly of this film right off the bat. However, don't be too discouraged. "Couples Retreat" isn't all that bad. However, it's not noticeable either. The cast is all great with the exception of Kali Hawk, whose role could've honestly been played by any up-and-comer young pretty thing actress. I enjoyed the other Vince Vaughn-Jon Favreau vehicle Four Christmases more than this one.

The concept and structure of the story felt all too "sitcom special-goes-to-Hawaii," with each couple's problems magically getting resolved within one vacation. And although I could see a pair like Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl (in Knocked Up - Unrated (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)) as a couple, the pairing of Vaughn and Malin Akerman seemed a little too unbelievable to me. I know Vaughn's a funny guy and all (I'd love to hang out with the guy), but it felt a bit too plotted and not real. Then again, this is a movie!

Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell shine as actors but are annoying as a couple who I would dread if I was friends with them in real life. This movie is enjoyable enough for those who enjoy nice, little romantic comedies, but it shouldn't be at the top of their queue to view. Instead, catch Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (MUCH better!) or even treat yourself to "Valentine's Day."

This was a terrible movie... and it's not funny. I'm not sure why some reviewers "laughed throughout" unless there's some chemical enhancement ongoing. There weren't many jokes and few situations were funny. Maybe some find facial expressions hilarious and don't need much else. I don't categorize it as comedy or romance. I'm extremely disappointed in Couples Retreat, especially given the cast, and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

I would have rated this a zero if that option were available. People that I watched this movie with turned to each other after it was over and said, "What a waste of money!" I couldn't agree more. The script was absurd (it could have been a good concept with couples taking a trip together to a remote island full of funny characters, but those characters were not developed at all), some of the lead roles were horribly miscast, and whoever directed it failed to notice that the story line left big gaps. How do people like Vaughn and Favreau get financing when there are so many people out there with talent and real stories to tell? (The whole Judd Apatow/Seth Rogen series is another case in point-- one of their recent flicks holds the distinction of being THE WORST movie ever among my friends.) Sorta sad - and a real waste of money that could have gone for a much more benevolent cause.

Pros: beautiful set location. Cons: Extremely boring, not funny corny "comedy" desperately trying to push some "serious" ideas for the duration of the movie. Avoid.

Good viewing for a Saturday night with your sweetie. Several laughs throughout the picture.
There is a good message for your marriage in the end.