Los Angeles Opinion, News and Talk

Couple's Fail

SOME actors can step into the producing and directing roles comfortably for example Clint Eastwood. He directed, produced, scored and starred in Million Dollar Baby and it bought him much success and won many awards including an Academy Award for Best Picture.

But on the other hand, some struggle. Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau wrote and starred in Couples Retreat, but it didn't pay off. As an actor, Vaughn is comedic, funny even. But anything else and the critics will be laughing at him, not with him.

Couples fail

The formula they had was right. The idyllic setting of Bora Bora was right. But it lacked any panache or fizz.

Cast your mind back 13 years when both Favreau and Vaughn starred in Swingers. The comedy placed both in the spotlight and helped them get to where they are today. But if you look closer, you will notice that there are snippets of Swingers in this movie as Vaughn again plays a guy who can get through in life by his personality.

This time around, both play family men - Dave (Vaughn) a father of two married to Ronnie (Malin Akerman) and Joey (Favreau) married to Lucy (Kristin Davis). Both are persuaded to take some time out and head away for a holiday to the tropical island of Tahiti. The movie is based around Jason (Jason Bateman) and his wife Cynthia (Kristen Bell) who are suffering marital problems. Cynthia finds her husband controlling and everything has to be straight to the ‘t'. Trying to solve their problems and keep the spark in their relationship, both Jason and Cynthia try to convince their friends in heading to Bora Bora for some relaxation. Doing this with a powerpoint presentation, the somewhat disillusioned couple manage to convince their friends in taking the trip, but there is a catch. When Jason and Cynthia mention the words ‘couple therapy', this makes the group rethink about going but assures them that therapy is optional and they can still have fun.

So Eden West, a resort at Bora Bora awaits their arrival.

But it soon becomes apparent that couples therapy is compulsory, which has everyone bar the couple in need wanting to get out. With some of the therapists looking like they need their own dose of therapy, the crack start to appear in the marriages.

The most interesting couple is Joey (Favreau) and Lucy (Davis). They met and fell in love at school, but now there marriage is somewhat stale and they are growing apart. Joey wants to deflect to the Eden East, which is full of singles who let their hair down and party all day and night. Lucy eyes every muscular man in sight, including the yoga instructor, who sadly resembles Fabio.

 

Couples fail

With an embarrassing massage scene, the yoga instructor who installs some gyrating poses and the scene where they are told to take their clothes off and look at their partners is possibly the only laughter you will get out of the movie.

Without giving the end away, the couples end up at Eden East where they end up working things out with their significant other and all ends well.

Sadly, I was in a rush to see this movie, but if there was only the promise that you could get your money back if you didn't like it. I would be a little richer if that was the case.

 

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