» partner programme
copyright © medifusion ltd. 2009
 

DVD

Couples Retreat

Directed by Peter Billingsley, Couples Retreat is a romantic comedy that follows four holidaying couples on the beautiful tropical-island of Bora Bora. One couple, close to divorce, books the holiday at the Eden couples retreat to work on their marriage, whilst their friends simply go along to enjoy some fun in the sun at a group-booking rate, well that's what they think!

Once the friends arrive at Eden they soon realise that participation in the resort's therapy is compulsory, so in order to stay on the island and enjoy its delights they must go through the motions and attend the often dangerous sessions - let the comedy begin!
 Read More

Directed by: Peter Billingsley
Publisher: Universal Pictures UK  |   Released: 08 February 2010  |   Runtime: 113 minutes
15
List Price: £, Our lowest price: £7.95
View Trailer
Write a review and win a £200 voucher.

Label
CD WOW! Sign up to CD WOW! and receive a £1 voucher, valid on purchases across the site.
BBC Shop Free Delivery on DVDs and Blu-Ray - use voucher code BBCR08 (saves £2.45 postage charge)
Reviews
Kashif Ahmed, 11/03/2010
A great cast and intriguing premise can't save 'Couples Retreat' from buckling into the doldrums of mediocrity, which is a shame, because it had all the right ingredients for a hit. Back in the late 90s / early 00s, comic actors Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau took the indie scene by storm with 'Swingers' (1997); still one of my favourite films and a genuine cult classic, followed up with 'Made' (2001); not as well received but an excellent and consistently funny movie. The pair then went their separate ways; Vaughn finding fame in front of the camera, Favreau faring better behind it. Now it's been over a decade since those "money" cats hit the L.A. club scene, so expectations surrounding their reunion were quite high, but somehow, this unquestionably talented duo have managed to churn out a forgettable, by-the-numbers rom-com that couldn't be any more generic if it tried: Couple on the brink of divorce (Jason Batemen and Kristen Bell--both good) rope their friends into going to a resort / new age marriage counselling trip: Hilarity ensues...or at least that's the idea.

There're a few good one-liners courtesy of Vince Vaughn, a laugh out scene in the sauna / snow room and even some sagely relationship advice towards the end. But there simply aren't enough laughs to warrant it's two hour plus running time; everyone appears to be having fun, though (shot on location in the Polynesian tropics; who wouldn't?) alas, little of that joy is transferred to the audience. As a die hard Vince Vaughn & Jon Favreau fan, I got the impression that this was meant to be their 'She's Having A Baby' (1988) or 'Mr Mom' (1982) but having recently re-viewed those John Hughes classics, it's obvious that they're as far off the mark with 'Couple's Retreat' as Kevin Smith was with 'Jersey Girl'. A well meaning but convoluted film that's nowhere near as insightful or funny as it ought to be. Back to the drawing board.