Wanderlust
0.5/4
Starring: Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux, Alan Alda, Malin Ackerman
Rated R for Sexual Content, Graphic Nudity, Language and Drug Use
"Wanderlust" is a terrible movie, easily the worst of this new year. Tedious, unfunny and seemingly without end, it makes "One for the Money" look like decent entertainment.
George (Rudd) and Linda (Aniston) are a happily married couple living in Manhattan when their fortunes take a turn for the worse. George's company goes under after his boss gets caught in some unscrupulous dealings and HBO doesn't pick up Linda's movie. Unable to afford living in the "micro-apartment" they just bought, the two head to Atlanta, where George's brother offers him a job. But his brother (co-writer Ken Marino) is a lunatic so they flee to the commune that they stopped by on the way to Atlanta. But are they ready to commit to this extremely open society?
It surprised me to learn that the duo behind "Role Models" was also the duo responsible for this disaster. "Role Models" was a humorous and occasionally hilarious buddy comedy. "Wanderlust" barely has two or three chuckle-worthy moments, and nothing close to a full-bellied laugh. The jokes are tired, and Wain drags the worst of them longer than would be necessary if they were actually funny (which they aren't).
Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston are two able comedians, but they're flat as pancakes here. They seem to realize that the material is crap and just take the money. They do have chemistry as a couple, but the script doesn't give us any reason to care about them. Justin Theroux is meant to be the comic star of the movie, but he's boring. The role demands someone of Johnny Depp-like weirdness, and Theroux doesn't come close. Alan Alda and Malin Ackerman are on hand, but like the rest of the cast, they're not given any good material.
The ineptitude of this movie is jaw-dropping. It contains no edge, limp humor and boring characters. How could anyone think that this script could work? Wain and Marino take no chances and go for easy laughs. Unfortunately the jokes and gags are too bland to elicit even grins. Instead, they generate grimaces.
Wain appears to think that male nudity is hilarious (it's the new must-have in any R-rated comedy). In the right context, it can be (just like anything else). But merely showing fat old people in the nude isn't funny, it's gross. You have to actually make a joke to make it funny.
I'll admit there are a few times when Wain actually hits the mark, but it's not often and none of the jokes are funny enough to warrant sitting through this crapfest. Avoid it like the plague.
Starring: Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux, Alan Alda, Malin Ackerman
Rated R for Sexual Content, Graphic Nudity, Language and Drug Use
"Wanderlust" is a terrible movie, easily the worst of this new year. Tedious, unfunny and seemingly without end, it makes "One for the Money" look like decent entertainment.
George (Rudd) and Linda (Aniston) are a happily married couple living in Manhattan when their fortunes take a turn for the worse. George's company goes under after his boss gets caught in some unscrupulous dealings and HBO doesn't pick up Linda's movie. Unable to afford living in the "micro-apartment" they just bought, the two head to Atlanta, where George's brother offers him a job. But his brother (co-writer Ken Marino) is a lunatic so they flee to the commune that they stopped by on the way to Atlanta. But are they ready to commit to this extremely open society?
It surprised me to learn that the duo behind "Role Models" was also the duo responsible for this disaster. "Role Models" was a humorous and occasionally hilarious buddy comedy. "Wanderlust" barely has two or three chuckle-worthy moments, and nothing close to a full-bellied laugh. The jokes are tired, and Wain drags the worst of them longer than would be necessary if they were actually funny (which they aren't).
Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston are two able comedians, but they're flat as pancakes here. They seem to realize that the material is crap and just take the money. They do have chemistry as a couple, but the script doesn't give us any reason to care about them. Justin Theroux is meant to be the comic star of the movie, but he's boring. The role demands someone of Johnny Depp-like weirdness, and Theroux doesn't come close. Alan Alda and Malin Ackerman are on hand, but like the rest of the cast, they're not given any good material.
The ineptitude of this movie is jaw-dropping. It contains no edge, limp humor and boring characters. How could anyone think that this script could work? Wain and Marino take no chances and go for easy laughs. Unfortunately the jokes and gags are too bland to elicit even grins. Instead, they generate grimaces.
Wain appears to think that male nudity is hilarious (it's the new must-have in any R-rated comedy). In the right context, it can be (just like anything else). But merely showing fat old people in the nude isn't funny, it's gross. You have to actually make a joke to make it funny.
I'll admit there are a few times when Wain actually hits the mark, but it's not often and none of the jokes are funny enough to warrant sitting through this crapfest. Avoid it like the plague.
Comments
Post a Comment