Details
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Title: Couples Retreat
Release Date: 14 October 2009
Directed By: Peter Billingsley
Running Time: 107 Mins
Plot / Story
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Married couple Jason and Cynthia start having trouble with their relationship due to the strains and stresses of attempting to have a child, they ... Read review
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Advantages: Easy Watching, Did Make Me Giggle Disadvantages: Predictable
...--
Title: Couples Retreat
Release Date: 14 October 2009
Directed By: Peter Billingsley
Running Time: 107 Mins
Plot / Story
--
Married couple Jason and Cynthia start having trouble with their relationship due to the strains and stresses of attempting to have a child, they grow apart and are considering divorce. As 2 professional people they want to make it work and look into ... .../>
The 4 couples have to partake in the mandatory skill building aspect if they are to enjoy everything else the beautiful tropical island has to offer, but will the intense look at their relationships show cracks that they didn’t even know existed? Will the couples make it through together?
Characters
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Cynthia – Kristen Bell
Jason – Jason Bateman
Joey – Jon Favreau
Lucy – Kristin ... more
Details --
Title: Couples Retreat Release Date: 14 October 2009 Directed By: Peter Billingsley Running Time: 107 Mins
Plot / Story --
Married couple Jason and Cynthia start having trouble with their relationship due to the strains and stresses of attempting to have a child, they grow apart and are considering divorce. As 2 professional people they want to make it work and look into going to “Eden” a couple’s retreat where they can relax and enjoy the paradise vacation with some serious therapy and couple skill building time too. Only problem is that they cannot afford it.
A group deal makes the trip half the price for the 2 weeks away and they talk their 6 friends into coming along too.
The 4 couples have to partake in the mandatory skill building aspect if they are to enjoy everything else the beautiful tropical island has to offer, but will the intense look at their relationships show cracks that they didn’t even know existed? Will the couples make it through together?
Characters --
Cynthia – Kristen Bell Jason – Jason Bateman Joey – Jon Favreau Lucy – Kristin Davis Shane – Faizon Love Trudy – Kali Hawk Ronnie – Malin Akerman Dave – Vince Vaughn
A lot of the cast are typical of these types of comedy films that are about at the moment; they either seem to be directed by Judd Apatow have Vince Vaughn in them or star Kirsten Bell and Seth Rogan. All these “Buddy Comedies” as they are apparently called have a very similar feel to them. Mainly due to the cast I feel.
All the actors are familiar and it was nice to see them all working together on a project. They seemed to have a good chemistry. All of the couples were believable in their own ways and I’m sure most people have a friend like one of them.
I enjoyed all of the performances and thought Jon Favreau was brilliant. Being one of the writers of the film, he has given himself some of the funnier moments and his character Joey is certainly amusing to watch.
My Opinion --
From the newly in love to the couple whose marriage is basically already over, there is a lot of different relationship situations which make the film very easy to relate to.
I liked the laid back tone of the film. The setting and location is obviously stunning, being on a tropical island, but was well as helping the film to be visually pleasing it also relaxed me. There are no big explosions or any fight scenes or anything too dramatic going on at any point. Don’t get me wrong, it is far from boring, but most of the funny scenes come from the counselling parts and the script rather than actions.
Although there definitely are a few funny moments more to do with a physical slap stick comedy, including an almost shark attack and a guitar hero battle montage which had me giggling.
I really enjoyed this film as a whole and thought the way in slipped the serious messages and relationships in with the comedy was great. It didn’t feel too heavy or too silly at any point which made it very easy watching.
The ending is pretty predictable, but not many films aren’t these days. I came out of the cinema however with a smile on my face which was the main aim. So Couples Retreat succeeded in my books.
I will give it 4 out of 5, it is very watch able and suitable for family viewing with no real swearing and mild sexual reference. The acting is fine and the location beautiful. It’s a very easy to watch and sweet film that will leave you smiling and give you a few giggles along the way.
...to go if three other couples go with them on a special deal. So Bateman bulldozes 3 friends and their wives to go with them. This is the first problem. Bateman’s character is so obnoxious that you can’t believe that he has any friends. Anyway, ploughing on. When they eventually get to the island ( and the first part of the film leading up to it seems to take a year) they are greeted by the most unbelievably camp and Hollywood-stereotypical posh Englishman, ... ...and jet-skiing, are disturbed to find that they are also scheduled to take part in couple therapy sessions. These sessions are flat and humourless. The only thing we learn is that Jon Favreau’s character really is utterly revolting and not just merely repulsive. It gets worse. There is a scene, supposedly set around a yoga session, that consists of nothing more than an eerily-smiling second-rate body-builder (played by someone who really is called ...
quelconque 01.11.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Couples Retreat
Advantages: Funny, well written, romantic Disadvantages: Took a little while to get going
...cast. The film sees four couples that are very close friends, go to extreme lengths to attempt to save one of the couple's marriage as they fear that they haven't got the spark anymore, and that the relationship is just about to fizzle out. The only way to save it, to head to 'Eden', the glorious island boasting sunshine, fun activies, beautiful surroundings..and just a little bit of couple's therapy. Vince Vaughn, Kristen Bell, Kirsten Davis, John ... ...their adventure. Will all the couples be happy to rise first thing in the morning and discuss their marriages with a councillor, who appears to be looking to cause more problems? What happens when a buff, spanish yoga instructor shows them some odd 'positions' shall we say. Will shark infested waters cause a problem? Joey (John Favreau) hears about 'Eden East'. The other side of the island that is for singles, and predominantly full of alcohol, nakedness ...
jesskar1401 18.10.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Couples Retreat
Advantages: Funny, a little different from the usual romcom. Disadvantages: Somewhat predictable.
Couples Retreat was released in the UK on the 14th October 2009, starring Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Faizon Love, Jon Favreau, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell, Kristin Davis, Kali Hawk, Peter Serafinowicz and Jean Reno who plays Eden's (the resort) owner. This romantic comedy tells the story of four couples who travel together with a group package to Eden, a resort to relax and find adventure. The trip was organised by Jason (Jason Bateman) ... ...that they can take the couples therapy, while the other couples get to do the fun stuff such as wind-surfing and sunbathing. On their arrival Joey (Jon Favreau) discovers that there are two sides of Eden: Eden West and Eden East. Of course the couples are sent to Eden West where they discover their part of the package is designed for couples building skills and therapy. The fun stuff actually happens in Eden East, the singles' resort. At their first ...
MissDanaBanana 23.10.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Couples Retreat
Advantages: You will have a good laugh Disadvantages: Story is simple
...to the director of the Couples Retreat for getting the best actors for these roles - perfect match! It couldn't be better! From my point of view, the ending could be more fun but as a whole movie was great you can forgive a small part of sentimentality. I would like to recommend this movie to everyone as a good comedy! SHORT STORY Four couples went to the tropical island called EDEN, which practicing in the couples retreats and fun. They all appeared ... ...treat part when EDEN EAST was the fun part. One couple is at the island for a therapy when the other three are there to have some fun but unfortunately - they are at the EDEN WEST! Now they will have to go through the couple's therapies, face the truth of their relationships and have many funny situations. ...
yankin 03.11.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Couples Retreat
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Advantages: A good intro to Bob and his team. Encourages teamwork. Disadvantages: None.
I know it's sad but I wanted this DVD as much as the children did. So knowing we were going away for a couple of weeks to a little retreat and a bit of peace and quiet I bought this DVD in order to hopefully help with that plan.
I bought the DVD in Tesco, for around £15, as at the time it was new in the charts. Prices will vary and go up and down according to what offers are on so it is worth having a look about either in the high street or online..
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Kevin is the man Charlie has been seeing and he is a Doctor. The couple are in enjoying spending their time together until Kevin?s mother returns. Viola is his mother and she has been away at a retreat after she went crazy due to being sacked from her chat show. She was sent away to learn to control her anger. Viola is in for a shock when Kevin proposes to Charlie and she turns to her assistant Ruby for help.
Will Viola be able to ...
Their relationship in danger of dissipating, a couple racing to salvage their marriage invites three other couples to join them at a tropical island resort. Upon arriving at the island paradise to enjoy some carefree fun in the sun, the other couples are disturbed to discover that participation in therapy sessions is mandatory if they hope to remain at the resort. Peter Bilingsley directs a comedy penned by Jon Favreau, produced by Vince Vaughn, and pairing the two SWINGERS collaborators onscreen with co-stars Jason Bateman and Faizon Love.
