‘Couples Retreat’ Reviews May Leave Cast Needing Therapy

‘Couples Retreat’ reviews are brutal

Vince Vaugh heads the cast in "Couples Retreat." Image from Wikimedia.

There is only one film being widely released this weekend, “Couples Retreat.” Unfortunately for movie lovers, critics would advise that you stay home or do something — anything — else with your money rather than seeing “Couples Retreat.”

Only 10 percent of critics at Rotten Tomatoes gave “Couples Retreat” a good review. Most of the ones who gave it “good” reviews really just thought it was mediocre. If “Couples Retreat” makes a killing at the box office, it won’t be the first time that a movie totally lambasted by critics pulled in the big bucks. In fact, that happens all the time. “The Final Destination” got horrible reviews but led at the box office for multiple weeks.

Big names, big budget

Actors’ salaries alone must have been pretty expensive for “Couples Retreat,” which stars Kristen Bell, Kristin Davis, Kali Hawk, Malin Akerman, John Favreau, Faizon Love, Jason Bateman and Vince Vaughn. Yes, that sounds like a lot of stars who might end up needing credit repair if this movie tanks, but the film is about four couples. They all take a trip together for couples therapy.

IMDB doesn’t reveal how much the filmmakers spent on “Couples Retreat,” and it always makes me suspicious when that happens. Perhaps the producers are embarrassed by how much they spent making a movie that Variety says “impresses too little imagination or personality, failing to blend seriocomic tones that occasionally tumble into the heavy-handed, maudlin or cloying.”

‘Couples Retreat’ reviews

General consensus among critics is that “Couples Retreat” was too long and humor seemed forced. Bill Goodykoontz from the Arizona Republic wrote “Couples Retreat plays like the NBA All-Star game: What seems like a dream-team exhibition of pros at the top of their game too often turns into an undisciplined mess.”

Victoria Alexander from FilmsinReview.com says “Mean, miserable married men. Not funny. A toddler easily steals the movie.” Ben McEachen from Empire Magazine actually says  in his “Couples Retreat” review that the film is “a holiday to hell.” Ouch.