Couples Retreat

Four couples head to a tropical island resort.  In order to get a group discount rate and to save their marriage, one of the couples convinces the others to come on a couples retreat.  Little do they know that all 4 couples are required to seriously take part in couple ‘skill building’ exercises to find their ‘inner animals’.

With a stellar cast which includes Vince Vaughan, Jon Favreau, Kristin Davis (Sex and the City), and the fact the movie was penned by Vaughan and Favreau (who collaborated on Swingers), one would expect this movie to be your better than average comedy.

The storyline revolves around the lives of the couples: Jason and Cynthia (Jason Bateman from The Invention of Lying, Extract and Kristen Bell from Heroes, Gossip Girl) who are considering divorce, Dave and Ronnie (Vaughan and Malin Akerman from The Proposal, Watchmen) who are happily married, Joey and Lucy (Favreau from I Love you, Man and Kristen Davis) who seem to hate each other but have stayed together, and divorced Shane (Faizon Love from Elf) and his new 20 year old girlfriend Trudy who calls him ‘Daddy’ (Kali Hawk).

Although there are many ‘big’ names to the cast, the standout performers in the movie are the French actor, Jean Reno (the Professional) who plays Marcel, the ‘couples whisperer’ and Carlos Ponce who plays an overly sexual yoga instructor called Salvadore.

The storyline itself could have been directed better but it is clear Vaughan’s ability to draw humour is not shared by the rest of the cast.  The movie is dependent on a few very funny scenes such as Vaughan’s character overplaying a scratch as a shark bite, a yoga session with Salvadore who can’t help but slap everyone on the bottom and a scene where Joey (Favreau) cannot understand hotel staff.
The rest of film feels somewhat middle of the road despite clear attempts at trying to be funny such as an overly long scene of a ‘guitar hero’ competition, leading on to the unabashed product placement in the film.  There is no running away from the Guitar Hero and Budweiser.

The film will provide a few laughs.  But if you’re expecting to be reeled over from slap stick humour or for that matter, witty remarks, this is not the movie for you.  It is your straight down the line, ‘RomCom ‘ with a few great lines from Vince Vaughan (which is to be expected), Jean Reno and Carlos Ponce.

Watch this movie if you’re into Romantic Comedies.  Don’t watch this movie if you think this is the next best Vince Vaughan film.