No love for this retreat.

Grade: C-

Couples Retreat

Indian Release Date: 29/01/10
CBFC Classification:  A
Running Length: 1 Hour 50 Minutes

Cast: Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Jon Favreau, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell, Kristin Davis, Kali Hawk, Carlos Ponce, Jean Reno, Temuera Morrison
Director: Peter Billingsley
Screenplay: Vince Vaughn & Jon Favreau & Dana Fox
Cinematography: Eric Edwards
Music: A.R. Rahman

This is only the second movie that Peter Billingsley has directed, the first being the self starred ‘Sacred Fire’ back in 1994 and perhaps he needs a little more time. Star studded ‘Couples Retreat’ starts off promisingly but regrettably fades into oblivion. The cast which includes Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau and Kristin Davis among others do their best to hold it together but it just ain’t workin. It’s like a poor man’s ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’. ‘Couples Retreat’ is tired and stale.

Like I said it starts off promisingly and I did LOL in the beginning, but then I got bored and wished I could have fast forwarded some scenes. The seemingly incomplete or sketchy story begins with a group of friends, four couples in all who are going through different difficulties with their relationships.  Jason (Jason Bateman) and his wife Cynthia (Kristen Bell) are on the verge of divorce and decide the must seek immediate help. They find a couples retreat resort exactly suited to their needs but must convince their friends to go too so they will get a half price deal. Reluctantly the friends agree on condition that they do not have to attend any therapy. It is set on the beautiful island of Eden with turquoise seas and white beaches, all the couples are looking forward to a great holiday but what follows is not exactly what they had in mind.

The story is pretty obvious, a ‘’no brainer’’ in what will happen in the end but what I was expecting was a comedy and as soon as they reach the island where the main bulk of the movie takes place the comedy stops. There are attempts at it now and again but nothing worth mentioning. So I was bored with its mixture of soppy and half funny scenes. The funniest person in the movie is the son of Dave (Vince Vaughn), little Kevin played by Colin Baiocchi and he’s in the movie for less than five minutes.

With all the big names in this movie it still couldn’t be saved. I think what has happened in Hollywood is everyone has become friends and they agree to be in their friends movies, without reading the script first. Sorry that’s just speculating, don’t take any notice.

Final Verdict: I can’t stop you watching this movie but don’t say I didn’t tell you so

Grade: C-

 

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