"Couples Retreat"
by: Paolo Sardinas

The topic of couples is always a fun one to exploit in movies. Why? Well because they usually get it wrong or just plain screw up. These "movies" about "couples" usually is nothing more than just some fairytale ideal and the belief that all love problems can be resolved within a 90 minutes time frame. Really it takes a couple of day in the movie but it just feels like 90 minutes.

These "films" usually are one of two things: One they over exaggerate and just make you hate it cause of all the lies. Two they're under exaggerated and fail to show a complete understanding of the "rough and tough" life of a couple. And every now and then we get a little surprise which manages to incorporate elements of both. "Couples Retreat" is the latter.

Now the comedic pairing of Vince Vaughn and John Favreau is not one which was a mistake. Rather it was a god send. Sadly over the last few years one has flourished while the other has, well, died. Favreau is having plenty of fun giving us movies about elves and men who dress up in an iron suit and fight crime, while Vaughn is having fun doing nothing. "Couples Retreat" is written by the comedic pair but sadly it's very un-funny rather than just plain, regular funny. The story follows a group of couples as they travel to the lovely Bora Bora on vacation. What they don't know is that while they're for fun in the sun, one of the other couples is there to try and rekindle their dying relationship. The others soon realize that they pretty much have to participate in the couples therapy program and things just go crazy from there.

Now the whole feeling of the movie is kind of scary seeing as how the whole premise of the film is about these couples having to stay on the island and can't have a fun time. It would make a decent horror film if they hadn't used that idea before. "Retreat" contains a very star studded cast including Vince Vaughn and Malin Akerman(Couple 1), Favreau and Kristen Davis(Couple 2), Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell(Couple 3), and Faizon Love and Kali Hawk(Couple 4). Now all of these couples, to me, seem a bit out of place. Firstly we have Vaughn with the sexy Akerman, a modern twist on Beauty and the Beast. Then Kristen Bell who’s kind of annoying and weird and Bateman whose, well, Jason Bateman. And Faizon over there looks like he married a teenager. The only real couple who actually makes sense is Favreau and Davis who not only look like they match but are the only one who at least look like their having fun.

Overall most, if not, all of these actors look about are about as entertaining as a plank of wood. No fun just a bunch of lame and lousy one liners to keep things afloat. Now while the film was rated PG-13, you always get that feeling that the original R rating was what they had originally intended. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. Who knows? Who cares? The film does turn into nothing but pure mindlessness with nothing more than one or two scenes of mild funniness.

The film is directed by Peter Billingsley, yes little Ralphie, who also makes his directorial debut. While it's been ages since we've seen Billingsley do anything worthwhile, I think he could've chosen something with a little bit more foundation for his debut. It's not that Favreau and Vaughn aren't funny; it's just that their script is. Rather than truly letting you laugh it almost forces these wannabe comedic situations down your throat and never truly gives you time to breath. Or to enjoy the very beautiful beach scenery shots of the island.

While the film has one or two funny scenes throughout, it's still one of those under and over exaggerated couple’s flicks. Never really showing the true side of being a couple truly is. It’s more of one big mindless joke that never seems to end. While the beautiful location shots are enough to maybe rent the film, its best you just avoid this trip altogether. Grade: D