Couples Retreat

Jason Bateman, Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell, and Malin Akerman all star in the hilarious new October 2009 comedy Couples Retreat, directed by Peter Billingsley. This film intends to show problems that couples face into a humorous light. The humorous film presents four couples from the Midwest region taking a well-deserved vacation at an elegant island resort. One couple used this opportunity to see a highly recommended therapist in order to fix their marriage. The other three couples intended to have a blast jet skiing, going to the day spas, and swimming in the beach. However, they are in for a surprise when they discover they either take part in the therapy sessions as well or leave. How bad could it be? The audience gets a chance to look at real world issues that all couples face from a comical standpoint.
Jason (Jason Bateman) and his wife Cynthia (Kristen Bell) decide that their relationship is strained when they have trouble trying to have a baby. They discover a great group rate to Eden West, a tropical island resort that specializes in couples’s skill building. In order to afford the vacation, they present a PowerPoint to their friends, three other couples, so that they’ll agree to go. The couples are skeptical at the short preparation time, so they say no. Jason Bateman, who plays the husband in distress, goes to Vince Vaughn, who plays his best friend, asking him to re-think the vacation to help him save his marriage. The movie transitions into the beautiful scenery of a tropical island. They kick off the vacation with a beautiful meal, where they must decide whether or not to accept the full couples’s skill building package or they will be sent home. With a few drinks and excellent seafood dishes, they all accept. Throughout the sessions and skill building activities, the couples realize that maybe they do have a few setbacks in their relationships. Joey (Jon Favreau) and his wife Lucy (Kristin Davis) realize that they consistently cheat on one another. Another finds out that they stopped working together and living life as a couple rather than as two strangers. Not only do the couples realize their problems, but they attempt to work them out and even offer help to their friends along the way.
The movie is based on an original idea by Vince Vaughn. Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau wrote the script together. The movie really has a lot going for it because of its likeable cast. However, one common dislike of the film is that the characters are too underdeveloped. There were too many different main characters to follow. The dialogue and the fast pace of the film makes it difficult for the audience to really find a deep connection with the characters.
Overall, the movie offers several laughs for the audience, like when Dave (Vince Vaughn) swims with sharks or when Jason (Jason Bateman) pull an imaginary gun on his therapist. revealing very serious problems that couples undergo in a fresh, comical way. This makes it easier for the audience to relate to the characters, despite the underdevelopment of the characters. You may end up putting yourself in one of the cast members’ shoes, understanding the conflicts they are trying to overcome. Although it is not one of Vaughn’s best films, this comedy offers a fresh look at how to resolve everyday problems that couples undoubtedly find themselves facing. Maybe Vaughn couldn’t get into the romantic comedy because it’s not his style. In 2001, Vaughn stated, “"I've never done a romantic comedy, because it seems they can't just tell a love story. It's always something like a radio station does a poll and decides these two people will get along, and if they do they get a million dollars. You don't need all of that to get into a love story." (www.imdb.com)
The beautiful tropical setting and the easily-relatable plot gives Couples Retreat such potential. But does the script written by Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau reach this potential completely? The script could have been wittier, most critics on rottentomatoes.com have said. The characters are too underdeveloped for the audience members to really feel like they are part of the movie, making the movie seem long and difficult to finish. However, the occasional burst of laughter and the likeable cast makes it difficult to make a quick trip to buy snacks during the movie. Two stars out of five!