We’ve had our eyes on Couples Retreat for a good month. The goofy Jon Favreau-Vince Vaughn reunion film that Mr. Favreau penned, off an idea from Mr. Vaughn, seems like the type of pure high-concept tripe that we’ll scoop up with the fervor of Oliver Twist. To wit: four couples visit a tropical paradise in the hopes of reviving their respective relationships in different ways. Altogether now: Hack! But! We have no doubt that it’ll be a fertile playground for hilarity between old friends Vaughn and Favreau. Also? The other two men are played by our personal favorites Jason Bateman and Faizon Love. Sounds like a hit movie; or at least one that we’ll see opening weekend regardless of actual quality.
Now there’s word about the ladies joining the group. According to The Hollywood Reporter, actresses Kristen Bell, Malin Ackerman and Kristin Davis have joined the cast playing the wives of Messrs. Bateman, Vaughn and Favreau, respectively. All three actresses have great comedic skills, but we’ll take Ms. Bell over the others, despite the fact that Ms. Ackerman subjected herself to many indignities in the Farrelly Brothers remake of The Heartbreak Kid. Ms. Bell’s work in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, another island paradise romance gone awry, was quietly under-rated amidst the other higher profile performances from Jason Segal, Jonah Hill and Russell Brand. As for Couples Retreat, her distaff Apatow-brand sense of humor seems to fit perfectly with Mr. Bateman’s, meaning their pairing could be a movie highlight.
Sadly, there is no word yet on who will be filling the spot of Mr. Love’s significant other, but we’ll keep our fingers crossed for Wanda Sykes.
