Director David Wain (Role Models) had a full house of potential when he took the helm of this new film: a high concept plot with leading stars in Paul Rudd (I Love You, Man) and Jennifer Aniston (Horrible Bosses). So why did the film go bust as a blockbuster comedy?
The major issue with the movie was a lack of intentionality in each scene to mount the tension and build up the story-arches. We first meet Rudd and Aniston’s characters, George and Linda, in New York City buying a tiny apartment they can’t afford and soon after losing their jobs.
They drive to Georgia to live with George’s brother, spending the night at a commune along the way. Finding the brother and their new life unbearable, they return to the “intentional community” desperately looking for a solution to their discontent.
The basic character conflict of the film is that Linda quickly falls in love with the commune and the accompanying lifestyle, while George is increasingly uncomfortable with the total lack of privacy found at the camp. The problem is that we see things entirely from George’s perspective.
Oh, we see Linda doing things too, but the film presents the commune almost entirely as an undesirable life. And when George leaves for a time, he never recognizes that certain parts of the “real world” may not really be so much better than the commune alternative. Giving some recognition or credibility to the camp’s lifestyle would have generated more tension. Make the audience really consider which life they would choose, don’t make the decision for us.
That being said, Paul Rudd is the king of awkward-moment comedy and the film does generate some pretty big laughs by turning up the dial on shock value, with particular emphasis on the male anatomy. And the film boasts an array of quirky and memorable side characters played by the likes of Alan Alda (Tower Heist), Justin Theroux (American Psycho), Malin Akerman (The Proposal), Joe Lo Truglio (Superbad), and Kerri Kenney (Reno 911). A final note: George’s brother was completely unbearable, not only for George and Linda, but for the audience as well. His part of the story is completely unnecessary and leaves a bitter taste in your mouth.
Overall, if anyone tells you this is the breakout comedy of the year, they're bluffing, don't go all in. But don't completely discard it either; it's worth checking out on a rainy day.
The Final Word: Wait to rent it.
The Final Word: Wait to rent it.
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