Couples Retreat
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"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
- DVD: 0 pages (2010-02-09)
- Publisher: Universal Studios
- Label: Universal Studios
- Starring: Vince Vaughn, Malin Akerman, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Faizon Love
- Director: Peter Billingsley
- Encoding: Region 1
- Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1,
- Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Studio: Universal Studios
- DVD Release Date: 2010-02-09
- Run Time: 113
- Average Customer Review: based on 84 reviews
- Sales Rank in DVD: #140
There is a good message for your marriage in the end.
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."