Couples Retreat

Vince Vaughn is the main draw here, because without his humor—and that of his sidekick and co-screenwriter, Jon Favreau—this would be 100 percent chick flick. We’re introduced to four couples during a kid’s birthday party. One of the pairs—Jason and Cynthia (Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell)—are considering getting a divorce and a trip to a tropical resort called “Eden” is their last chance to make things work, and if the other three couples don’t go with them, immediately, then they can’t go. The plot starts out flimsy and remains that way. Obviously all four leave their jobs and kids at the drop of a hat and go to Eden, which is run by a hard-handed guru Marcel (Jean Reno). They are threatened to be kicked off the island numerous times for not “following the rules” and the beach frolicking is mostly limited to organized activities like yoga and stripping for no apparent reason except for a Vaughn punch line. While the story is a bit lacking, the portions during couples therapy are revelatory. It’s here, in the interconnecting between mates, that the movie makes some strides, however small. Feather River Cinemas, Paradise Cinema 7 and Tinseltown. Rated PG-13