Couples Retreat (and everyone else too)

The epitome of the very prevalent category of "dramedy" emerging (targeting the chick flick crowd, I'd imagine? Though I'd prefer the laughs over the heartache and formulaic execution!). It wasn't awful, it wasn't fantastic, it wasn't well, much of any emotion I could really pull from because it tried too hard to be a little bit of everything and that's where it ultimately failed.

The story revolves around four couples (Vince Vaughn paired with Malin Akerman, Jason Bateman paired with Kristen Bell, Jon Favreau paired with Kristin Davis, and Faizon Love paired with, well - see it if you must and find out). Each couple has a unique set of problems ranging from day-to-day child rearing, home projects, the inability to conceive, infidelity, a loveless marriage, and a pending divorce. When given the opportunity to retreat to a couples resort (and promised they will only have to endure a "little couples counseling sprinkled in"), they all jump at the chance to escape their jobs, and ultimately their mundane lives for a little fun in Bora, Bora.

As the simple storyline progresses, nothing seems to pick up -- even packed with bona fide stars and seemingly perfect set-ups for hilarity and frivolous fun. Unfortunately, it's light on laughter and or any real resolution, and too heavy handed. It suffers by taking itself too seriously, and feels like taking a trip to the marriage counselor with an unhappy couple -- or four! (Yeah, not my idea of fun either.) Perhaps had they removed a couple or two and focused on the script (more interesting and far-funnier than the few one-liners that came only when you were thinking "is this a comedy ... oh, there's a joke!") it would have succeeded.

Brilliant idea, poor execution.

*Fun Trivia: Peter Billingsley, Ralphie from a Christmas Story directed this! Hopefully he takes on a better project in the future.*