Perhaps the only redeeming quality of "Couples Retreat" is that it shines a light on a harsh reality in our society - the perpetual failure of relationships, especially marriages, due to a lack of communication.
The problem with this movie was not that the characters' problems were unrealistic but that the cast made it difficult to consider the characters real. I don't think "Couples Retreat" was meant to be a parody of the problems that plague married couples but it seems the director could not decide between portraying marital problems in a meaningful way and squeezing out a few cheap laughs.
It begins with four couples who are friends and who go on a retreat to Eden - a paradise for adults - where they are forced to confront the gaps in each of their damaged relationships. But the catch is only one couple is there to work on their marriage, while the other three just want to jet ski and relax in the spa. However, they quickly realize a trip to Eden means first and foremost, obligatory couples therapy.
Despite a talented cast, including writers Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau, the couples are so formulaic it was difficult to care what happened to them. And with a cast that could be full of laughs - from Jason Bateman to Kristen Bell - the script is only intermittently funny. Rather than showcasing marriage problems with wit, the movie comes off as hit-you-in-the-face superficial.
Even more annoying than the weak humor, "Couples Retreat" hinges on pushing a fake notion of marriage rather than actually examining relationships on an individual level. If marriages like those are supposed to last, then maybe divorce isn't such a bad option to consider.
While the couple struggled to overcome their communication barriers, I struggled to think they shouldn't get divorced. Maybe that's just pessimism seeping through, but at the very least, wait to rent the movie before- coughing up $10. The mixed bag of silly, overdone and cliché characters leaves the audience to watch shallow caricatures in a minimally entertaining box office comedy.
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