Couples Retreat

Since his days as a swinger, Vince Vaughn has turned out a succession of rather stagnant comedies (with a couple of exceptions), but this latest vessel for his distinctive brand of swaggering, slick talking everyman exhibits his most charmless role to date.

Vaughn leads an ensemble of young couples in crisis (whether they know it or not), who escape the fatiguing daily grind and embark on an exotic excursion to paradise. In any Eden there is always a catch, however, which is punctually delivered by a portentous Peter Serafinowincz, who steals the show with his snooty demeanour and wryly delivered dialogue – although as a minor character this should never really be his show to steal. Meanwhile the plot ambles along a wearisome path of pouting and general bellyaching; paving the way for a formulaic, schmaltzy finale. Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell are boring, while Malin Akerman and Kristin Davis are vacant to the point that if they were replaced midway by mannequins, you probably wouldn’t notice.

On the whole this is a disappointing and predictable affair, which gives up on its own premise far too easily and seems content to just sit back and soak up some sunshine. Momentary relief comes in the more unlikely form of a testosterone charged John Favreau, who amicably sets himself up for a number of self deprecating falls.

Yet while Favreau is a running and willing butt, allowing his strangely surgically enhanced looking chest to be manhandled, Vaughn is more self-aware, making sure his man boobs stay predominantly clad and never letting it all just hang loose.

Those of you familiar with the promotional posters currently festooning bus shelters and billboards across the country will understandably expect this to be a three-way relationship romp, but there is a forth pair on this haven hideaway whose narrative contribution is equally consequential. Sadly it would seem someone at marketing HQ didn’t quite fancy giving a young black couple the same stage as their white counterparts, a judgment made all the more mystifying within the context that they are, in fact, all good friends. It’s a real shame because Faizon Love and Kali Hawk are by far the most amusing and least annoying partnership on this redundant retreat.

This may not exactly be lung rippingly funny stuff then, but there are a few moments that may cause smiles to crack – Vaughn and Serafinowincz’s Guitar Hero show down the prize pick. Ultimately, however, the only thing that will keep your attention for the duration is the stunning Tahitian scenery that acts the films setting. On reflection this is probably what swayed most of the cast to sign up to this inane guff of a film in the first place. It certainly can’t have been the script.

Adam Woodward

Anticipation:

A Swingers reunion of sorts? Sign us up!

Enjoyment:

When did Vince Vaughn forget the funny and find the flabby?

In Retrospect:

When making a rom-com it’s probably best to include romance. While you’re at it maybe chuck in some comedy as well.