Couples Retreat

Movie Title-- Couples Retreat

Release Year-- 2009

Running Time-- 1 Hour and 47 Minutes

Production Company-- Universal Pictures

Director-- Peter Billingsley

Cast-- Vince Vaughan, Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell, Faizon Love, Jon Favreau, Malin Akerman, Kristen Davis, Jean Reno, Carlos Ponce


Four couples go away to an island paradise for a couple's retreat and while one couple plans on working toward the good of their marriage, the other three couples plan on working on their tans and playing in the ocean. Once they get there however, they see that the resort has other plans for them and in order to stay on the island, they all have to participate couple's skill building to get the root of their relationships and learn how to fill the void in their lives that marriage, work and children has helped to open. What doesn't kill them, may make them stronger.

OK, with me, a Vince Vaughan movie is either hit or miss, meaning it is either super funny or a huge disappointment. This movie was pretty spot on, I laughed the entire time. We follow four couple friends that go away so that one couple can learn to grow together as a couple. When the four couples get there they find out that all of them will have to participate in all the couples therapy stuff or else the one couple that really wanted to come wouldn't have a chance to figure out their relationship. This aspect of the film is what makes it so funny. Without this aspect of the film it would just be some kind of a fluff film about one couple that may or may not make it.


Vince Vaughan's character goes on his normal comedic rants but this time he is actually funny, not annoying like it normally can be. He is not the funniest one in the movie however. Jean Reno who plays the part of Marcel, the man who created this program and Carlos Ponce who plays Salvadore the yoga instructor are the funniest two characters in the film. The story is a good one and the characters are funny, but Marcel and Salvadore are really the ones to watch the movie for. They put a whole new element in the film that makes everything that much more funny.


The scene with Vince Vaughan playing "Guitar Hero" is absolutely hilarious, it is one scene that you don't want to go to the bathroom during. Also, check out the extras on this film, if you don't think you have laughed enough when the movie ends, the extras are that much more funny. I think that any couple should sit through this film together; laughing together just makes things so much better, sharing a good laugh brings people together.

This movie makes me want to take a week off and go away to a secluded paradise. It is most definitively a movie that you have to see if you really want a good laugh. Check this film out and don't forget the popcorn!