FOKER'S MOVIE REVIEW - COUPLES RETREAT (From Croydon Guardian)

FOKER'S MOVIE REVIEW - COUPLES RETREAT

1:28pm Tuesday 13th October 2009

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‘Couples Retreat’ goes on release in the UK on October 14. However, the latest word from our friends across the pond is that it has knocked horror comedy ‘Zombieland’ off the number one spot in the US. It’s fair to say that ‘Couples Retreat’ could be Universal’s sleeper of the year.

In the film, four couples take advantage of a discounted package deal to spend a once in a lifetime holiday on an all inclusive trip to a luxury paradise island. The only catch is that the resort specialises in couples therapy which the friends have been told is optional…or is it?

The film is also written by and stars Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau who both worked together in the cult comedy ‘Swingers’. Vince Vaughn (Wedding Crashers) plays Dave, a happily married everyman who is devoted to his wife Ronnie (Malin Akerman Watchmen) and their two little boys. Joey (Jon Favreau-Rich guy Pete from Friends) and his gorgeous wife Lucy (Sex and the City’s Kristin Davis) are stuck in an unhappy marriage and both dream about extra marital relationships. Shane (Faizon Love) whose wife recently left him, is going through his own mid-life crisis and invites his new twenty year old girlfriend to the island. The last couple Jason (Jason Bateman Arrested Development) and Cynthia (Kristen Bell, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) have set the whole thing up as a last ditched attempt to save their marriage but need the agreement of their friends to come on holiday with them to make it affordable. The couple sell the idea by means of a PowerPoint presentation in funny scene where they almost transform into smarmy travel reps.

Once on the island the excitement of their glass bottom luxurious hut, jet ski’s and party-party night life, is soon extinguished when their very stuck up British host Sctanley with a c, played by our own Peter Serafinowicz (who I’m sure would get the proper recognition he deserves as a comedy actor if he changed his name to David Serafinowicz!) informs the group that if they don’t partake in the couples therapy sessions run by the legendary Monsieur Marcel (Jean Renoir) a self confessed ‘couples whisperer’, then they will be on the next flight home. After all, as he points out “this isn’t Sandals”.

The Couples are right out of their comfort zone and obviously don’t wish to talk about their relationships to complete strangers and this is pretty much a running theme throughout the movie. But will it make them better people?

I enjoyed this film but some of the set gag pieces were over done and we got the joke the first time. For me it’s more of a ‘wait for it to come out on DVD’ comedy. Although, I did like the opening credits showing relationships through the ages.

3 Stars