This Couple Enjoyed This Retreat

Mary and I went to the theater last night and took in the Vince Vaughn ensemble comedy Couple's Retreat.  It has received fairly unfavorable reviews that we both think are unwarranted.  It received a paltry 12% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes.  That doesn't speak very well for our taste in comedy, apparently.

The film tells the story Vaughn and his inner circle of friends, all of whom are married.  All of the couples have relationships are in various states of stability.  Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell approach their friends with a proposition to attend the couples getaway in an effort to repair their crumbling marriage.  Although it's met with resistance at first, it obviously works itself out, otherwise the film would only be twenty minutes long.

The cast is great.  In addition to Vaughn, it stars Malin Akerman, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell, Kristin Davis, Faizon Love and Jean Reno.  Constant Favreau and Vaughn co-hort Peter Billingsley makes his directorial debut.  

I laughed quite a bit throughout this film.  Favreau, Vaughn and Dana Fox share writing credit.  My only possible complaint is that it could have been trimmed.  I still maintain that a comedy should not be longer than 90 minutes.  A body has a hard time sustaining laughter for a period over that length.  To stretch it past 90 minutes is asking an awful lot.  The film better be pretty darn funny to go beyond that point.

I also felt Jean Reno's character was weak.  His performance seemed hollow.  But there are enough strong characters around him to pick up the slack.

While the film is nearing the end of it's theatrical run, I recommend picking it up for rental when it hits DVD release.

I give Couples Retreat two and a half Billys.