Arts&Entertainment AtTheMovies SoundCheck Couples Retreat is a predictable comedy with Artist: The Dutchess and the Duke only a few solid laughs. Album: Sunset / Sunrise Genre: Folk Revival Directed by Peter Billingsley. Written by Vince Vauhn and Jon Favreau. Starring Vaughn, Favreau and Malin Ackerman. BY TROY FARAH • THE LUMBERJACK Running Time: 107 minutes. hen an acoustic ballad and the lyrics are rehashed senti- Rated PG-13. is good, it’s called folk. ments from the ‘60s. BY GARY SUNDT • THE LUMBERJACK WWhen it sucks, it’s called The sunset arrives first in this country. Well, The Dutchess and the album, but there’s little hope of a ouples Retreat is a film because of their mannerisms and Favreau and Vaughn have had Duke’s sophomore album Sunset / sunrise. “Never Had A Chance” is about couples attending a inflections. Their dialogue has lit- a checkered career as collaborators Sunrise is a little of both. Drawing a breakup song that focuses bitterly Crelationship revival seminar tle substance, but how they use it (the great Swingers, the less great heavy influences from Bob Dylan on the past. In “Hands,” Lortz sings, on a beautiful tropical island. The evokes a chuckle here and there. The Break-Up), and the ending to and Lou Reed, The Dutchess and “The sun comes up / I’m counting pairs’ situations are mere examples But when I say those perfor- Couples Retreat hits home the fact The Duke still can’t seem to move the days I’ve got left,” completely of basic common relationship trou- mances pull the movie through, that this is not one of their stron- past their roots. down on himself. Not surprisingly, bles: inability to conceive, cheating I mean just that -- the story here ger entries. The movie can be cute The album title implies a con- every track follows this model and hearts, rebound relationships and does nothing to help them. Outside on occasion but lacks that spe- cept album of complete opposites, sounds the same as the last. the burden of children. (To those of the funny actors, Couples Retreat cial something to make it worth a but it isn’t merely a collection of Well-tuned vocals aren’t children reading this review, I’m is plotted, tired and predictable. strong recommendation. contrasts -- it’s more an analysis of enough to make Sunset / Sunrise a lying. Your parents are in no way The movie follows the same sort of The film is what I sometimes how opposites attract. Jesse Lortz’s great album, and it needs a deeper inconvenienced sexually or socially cookie-cutter outline I feel has been refer to as a “rainy day movie” -- rough vocals meld with Kimberly substance than metaphors about by your adorable antics.) The saving a frequent complaint of mine lately. not amazing, but good for when Morrison’s piping accompaniment, the sun. The Dutchess and the Duke graces of the movie are the main When you consider that funny men the picnic gets rained out. It’s the but they have the same monotone have a good idea going, but they actors themselves, because guess Favreau and Vaughn are also the sort of flick where you pop it on, pitch. The guitar and tambourine need to take it miles forward to be what? Funny people are funny. film’s screenwriters, this comes as a cuddle up with your gal and snug- style are too subtle to make a splash, more than background music. The couples in question are pretty big disappointment. gle. What actually happens in the Dave (Vince Vaughn) and Ronnie Where the movie really crash- movie hardly matters, because you Artist: Imogen Heap (Malin Ackerman); Jason (Jason es and burns is the ending, in both share a few laughs and are Album: Bateman) and Cynthia (Kristen which all of the couples’ troubles more content with one another’s Ellipse Bell); Shane (Faizon Love) and are magically solved by nothing- company than anything a forget- Genre: Alternative / Electronic Trudy (Kali Hawk); and Joey (Jon ness. Without going into too much table film has to offer. Favreau) and Lucy (Kristin Davis). detail, the final scenes leave practi- Rentals and bargain DVD bins I had to look up all these character cally everybody with little option are good for this. Accordingly, wait- names on imdb.com because, in my but to play along and make fools of ing until you can get a good snuggle BY ALICIA GILLMAN • THE LUMBERJACK eyes, these were not so much char- themselves. That the film ends with on to watch Couples Retreat seems mogen Heap has definitely made Ellipse makes a complete 180 as acters as popular performers who I everybody jumping on jet skis to- like a pretty good idea. a name for herself in the past few soon as the seventh track of the al- recognize as being comic. Even the gether undermines the reality that Iyears since the release of her 2005 bum, “Between Sheets,” rolls around. island caretakers, including more relationships actually take work, Grammy-nominated album, Speak It is something Heap fans are not ac- than a few actors who are gain- and things are rarely wrapped up in for Yourself. After four years, her long customed to -- a brief, simple song ing notoriety, are hilarious simply a nice little bow. awaited follow-up, Ellipse, has finally on the sweet ecstasies of love. Im- arrived. If Imogen Heap followers can mediately after, “2-1” possesses an TakeTwo BY MATTHEW VINSKO • THE LUMBERJACK embrace Ellipse’s use of new instru- eerily dark theme in music and lyrics, ouples Retreat, the new ro- time together as three of the four While the film provides solid ments, I believe it was worth the wait utilizing stringed instruments rather mantic comedy starring husbands. laughs courtesy of the many ac- “First Train Home” proves to be than using solely computerized beats. CVince Vaughn and Malin Thankfully, the movie provides tors and actresses present, Couples the perfect ballad to start off the al- From then on, the songs sound com- Akerman, tells the story of four cou- its fair share of laughs. Vaughn Retreat is just too cliché to be con- bum. Not only is it catchy, but it con- pletely different from each other, each ples, each with their own unique set plays his typical loveable giant, but sidered a standout film. If you are tains what fans of Heap adore: unique possessing lyrics with strong emo- of problems. the film’s biggest gags go to Favreau, looking for just another romantic vocals, surprising variety and the use tions supported by the music. One might think the inclusion who easily steals each scene he is in. comedy, Couples Retreat will be of electronic music that defines her Ellipse, with the exception of a of multiple couples provides a de- Some may have forgotten his come- right up your alley. Those looking style. However, the next few songs few songs, is an easily enjoyable al- tailed account of the many types of dic roots since he took up directori- for something more, however, will on the album do not live up to their bum that will appeal to open-minded relationships, but it does not. al duties of the Iron Man franchise, be disappointed. predecessor, and listeners may find fans. However, Ellipse may not attract Instead, it simply provides an but Couples Retreat easily reminds themselves disappointed by the high every audience due to its encourag- excuse for Vaughn, Jason Bateman viewers of Favreau’s appeal as an ac- expectations encouraged by the first ing beginning, lackluster middle and and Jon Favreau to share screen tor. track. complex end. October 15 - 21, 2009 | The Lumberjack 21.