 "Photo: N/A")
"Couples Retreat"
Directed by: Peter Billingsley
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 113 min.
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell
Rating: D+
All of the stars in "Couples Retreat" must have money problems or break downs with their yachts or something. This is a total paycheck film for all involved.
These are funny people in a poor setting. The jokes fall flat and the story is uninspired. This is quite a shame since the parties involved have all done great work, but this is one to leave off of their resumes.
The film gets rolling when Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell decide to take a couples therapy weekend at a tropical resort. They won't be making the trip alone as the rest of their friends get roped in to taking the trip as well.
Of course wacky antics are around every corner. Pudgy men get naked for laugh attempts and the women walk around in little to no clothes for most of the film. Nothing really works here except for a couple one liners, which are vastly overshadowed by the lame physical humor.
Everything in the script has been done before. The couples think they are fine, go to this couples tropical camp and realize they their own problems and end up facing them.
It is not a feel good movie because the film does nothing to make the audience care about these characters. They are not funny and they are not even really likable.
This is only director Peter Billingsley's second directorial effort so it is hard to completely dismiss him. This film is not doing anything to further his career however. The filmmaker cannot ride the goodwill from being "A Christmas Story" forever.
"Couples Retreat" picked a great weekend to debut in the theaters. Nothing else really opened wide across the country and anyone heading to the movie theater would probably get a ticket for something with Vince Vaughn attached.
It is just too bad all those people are probably wanting their money back now. This one is almost a total waste. It is the epitome of those films, which get run on TBS during the afternoon people watch because there is nothing else on and it is easier to just tune in and turn off.
Luke McCormick can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 275
