Directed by:
Peter BillingsleyCinematography:
Eric Alan EdwardsComposer:
A.R. RahmanCast:
Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Faizon Love, Kristin Davis, Malin Åkerman, Kristen Bell, Temuera Morrison, Jean Reno, Peter Serafinowicz (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
Dave (Vince Vaughn) and Ronnie (Malin Akerman) are the social epicenter of their group of friends. Over the years, they’ve built a full life through commitment to their kids, friends and work. After eight seemingly blissful years together, Jason (Jason Bateman) and Cynthia (Kristen Bell) are at a crossroads. The once-happy pair shocks their close friends - Dave & Ronnie, Joey (Jon Favreau) & Lucy (Kristin Davis) and Shane (Faizon Love) & his new girlfriend Trudy (Kali Hawk) - when they announce that they are considering a divorce. In order to save their marriage, they’re making one last Hail Mary. Jason and Cynthia have discovered Eden Resort, a tropical island paradise in the South Pacific specializing in extensive couples therapy. But the only way they can afford to go is through the “Pelican Package,” Eden Resort’s group rate. It’s a win-win. While they get the counseling they need, their friends can bask on the white, sandy beaches, relax in the spas, ride jet skis and just enjoy themselves.
As tempting as it sounds (and as much as everyone wants to help Jason and Cynthia), there’s just no way they can all get away… until Dave & Ronnie agree to go. Now the four couples are on their way to paradise, and it’s “Game On” in the tropics. But there’s one small catch… The group discovers that ALL of the couples must partake in the unorthodox counseling techniques of Eden Resort’s renowned “Couples Whisperer” - Monsieur Marcel (Jean Reno). It’s all or none. And if it’s none, they will all be sent home. The couples soon find out that not everything is as it seems, especially in their own relationships. What follows is a hilarious and heartfelt look at real-world problems faced by all couples.
(Universal Pictures US)
Reviews (4)
The only things worth mentioning here are the actors and the most photogenic island of French Polynesia. Everything else is just water in the ocean. Each of the actors has already done something similar but better and you’ll enjoy Bora Bora more in any documentary. There is not a single reason to see this movie. Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau got paid for the “script” and then got paid even more for frolicking in front of cameras in a location most people can only dream of visiting. That’s what I call the American dream.
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Given how bizarre and predictably the plot looks and how annoyed the first audience reactions were, my relative satisfaction in the end is surprisingly high. The actors are great, the main trio of actresses is literally divine, and every joke works better in all those beautiful locations than in clichéd city sets. And even though occasionally some line or scene is a bit off, at the end, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.
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This is terrible, even though the cast wasn't completely bad - Kristen Bell is fine, Jean Reno is fine, Kristin Davis is fine, and Temuera Morrison is fine, but Couples Retreat is a disaster that nearly left me blind.
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Another bad example of how Vince Vaughn is a bad actor and how he chooses movies where he doesn't really have to do anything. It's always the same - bad jokes, great actors, terrible characters, interesting and unused ideas. All those actors won't save it. I don't want to experience something similar again. But I'll probably have to with similar movies anyway...
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