Word on the forum is generally negative. Says jupe17:
Didn’t like it one bit… very tiring, very unfunny and overstayed its welcome by a good 15-20 minutes
Couple’s Retreat
– October 23, 2009Posted in: Past Previews
About
See major films at your local UK cinema free! FMUK is a non-profit community sharing seefilmfirst codes for free advance previews nationwide. For more information, click the tabs above.You are not logged in.
Free Previews Today
Upcoming Free Previews
- September 12, 2010
- September 13, 2010
- Made in DagenhamMade in Dagenham
Time: 6:30 pm
Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Norwich, Braehead Glasgow, Brighton, Whiteleys, Leicester, Covent Garden, Belfast, Cardiff Atlantic Wharf, Manchester Trafford Centre, Edinburgh, Bournemouth, MetroCentre, Sheffield, Greenwich, Bristol, Wimbledon, Liverpool ONE, Blanchardstown. at 6:30 pm - It's a Wonderful LifeIt's a Wonderful Life
Time: 8:30 pm
Cardiff Chapter, Independent. at 8:30 pm
- Made in DagenhamMade in Dagenham
- September 14, 2010
- September 15, 2010
- September 16, 2010
- September 17, 2010
- September 20, 2010
- September 21, 2010
- September 23, 2010
- September 28, 2010
- October 5, 2010
Forum Stats
- Forum Posts: 49901
- Forum Threads: 4887
- Registered Users: 1258
- Newest User: djstanley
Users Online
- Registered users: andy376, demonafro, Google [Bot], oja786, platini_ng, Reikyt, superhero, terryt, the saturday boy, TheOnes, timthedaddy
It seems i am the only one who actually enjoyed this, i went in with really low expectations and it was much better than i imagined, ok it wasn’t the greatest film i have ever seen, nor is it any of the leading actors best work but there were some good comedy moments and loads of people in the cinema in Sheffield were laughing at some points it did drag but overall it was enjoyable.
Don’t mean to ignite a controversy here but fact is that every Indian film-maker or technician is always looking to get global recognition & visibility… AR Rahman has created wonderful music for a lot of Indian movies but Slumdog, despite some very average music by his stds, took him truly ‘global’ – he is now an icon and a prisoner of his own image… To maintain his iconic status, he ‘HAS’ to be in Hollywood projects…..His body of work in non-indian movies till now is mostly anonymous and all he is offered are projects like Couples retreat…Given a choice, i’m sure he’d decline but he really can’t…. besides I’m sure he got paid really well which the producers / studio will recover just by getting curious Indian audiences into the hall… which they would not have for COUPLES if it didnt have ARR… its a vicious cycle…
ps: I can see I have rambled….but I assume ppl will get the idea…
pps: I’m Indian
When we got into the very average sized screen at Vue Islington we saw about 4 rows having reserved signs on them and only afterwards found out they should have been for competition winners but they preferred to sit at the back with the rest of us (if they were there at all), and, as the signs never got removed, not even latecomers dared sit down in those rows, LOL. Can’t say it was overly full!
I know that ML enjoyed the film, she laughed very loudly next to me! I on the other hand was shutting my eyes in sheer desperation in some cringeworthy scenes. Needed a burger afterwards to cheer me up. That’s my diet down the pan.
Lol…I really can’t imagine AR Rahman fans going to see Couples Retreat just because of him!
And what about artistic integrity!!!
hehe…I would have, but I think the cinema attendant was telling people not to see there even at the very end, thinking they might suddenly get 30 competition winners coming at 6.30pm!
I know that ML enjoyed the film, she laughed very loudly next to me! I on the other hand was shutting my eyes in sheer desperation in some cringeworthy scenes. Needed a burger afterwards to cheer me up. That’s my diet down the pan.
So it was ML making all the loud laughter noises in the cinema at Islington!!! haha
And what about artistic integrity!!!
I just know a couple of friends who are also back from a 630 show in Central london…and one of them was not best pleased with ARRs effort… what did he expect – a John Williams or a James Newton Howard??
Yes, what was that about, everyone budged up for non-existent comp winners?
It musthave been, she never learns
I found it at times very funny but at others really long winded, needs a good chop up. Overall 6/10
I mean if he needs money at least go and do something like Underworld 4, but why do the music for a comedy? Music is always important, but if there was any genre less impt, it must be for comedy!
And what about artistic integrity!!!
I just know a couple of friends who are also back from a 630 show in Central london…and one of them was not best pleased with ARRs effort… what did he expect – a John Williams or a James Newton Howard??
Three words sum this film up – ‘straight to DVD’.
First half was OK, second half was terrible, the Guitar Hero scene was utterly pointless and it was obvious they had run out of ideas of where the film could go from that point onwards.
6/10
I saw this at Vue Shepherds Bush. Truly awful – my friend would have quite happily left after the first 20 minutes. Surprisingly quite alot of the audience seemed to find it funny! 3/10
I thought it was quite funny! I was one of the people in Shepherds Bush who were laughing out loud – I think it went down fairly well at the Shepherds Bush screening, most were laughing. So for me it definitely had hilarious moments but I also think that it did drag on a bit at towards the end. It quite reminded me of Forgetting Sarah Marshall for some reason (and it wasn’t because of Kristen Bell). 7/10 from me.
yeah forgetting sarah marshall dragged abit at the end as well and it had the Island resort location idea as well…
But I would say most people at Islington liked it too. Maybe us fmukkers are becoming too high brow….hehe….
High brow? Well not me then
It definitely had its cringy moments (and not necessarily the good type of cringe worthy) – but I can’t deny that I had a good laugh in places – those powerpoint presentations were gold (I had spent the afternoon creating this inane (but completely necessary I might add!) powerpoint presentation at work so maybe I appreciated it that bit more)
I was another of those at Shepherds Bush, me and my partner found it funny. I really had low expectations given what I had read prior to going, but it was surprisingly better than I thought, I would have to say a 7/10
Saw couples retreat and it was not that great. I agree it is one of those films that will go straight to DVD. However on a more serious note, I did like the fact that their main message was if you were in a relationship and it was not working, just don’t give up.
I watched this last night at Islington, I wondered what was happening with those reserved seats!! I think I must be the only person that liked it!! I thought the crowd sounded like they liked it as well!! I thought it was funny, only problem that it dragged a bit in places and the guitar hero scene just seemed like a massive plug!! 8/10.
I Seem to be the Exception on this subject but i thought couples retreat was hilarious, it was better than i expected and both myself and my husband really enjoyed the movie…
the rest of the screening at romford vue also seemed to agree!! i would rate the movie 8/10..
My friend and I both enjoyed the film, as did quite a few of people at Islington, judging by the laughing out loud. I thought there was a good vibe in the cinema.
It was a shame that the three rows of empty seats reserved for the competition winners were not used though!
Overall although I enjoyed the film and it’s message! I do however think it was about 20 minutes too long!
BTW how cute was that little boy???
7/10 from me.
Saw this last night at Sheffield Vue, it was much better than I had though it was going to be, yes there were the cringe worthy moments which I expected but overal I thought the film was really good. Some very funny moments in it – especially the little boy and the toilet – brilliant, and yes he was very cute
A lovely easy to watch yet thought provoking film. 8/10
"Time Out" has given it only 2/5…
I often wonder what people expect when they go to watch these types of films. For me, it was like Forgetting Sarah Marshall… not as funny, but no way as bad as some have made it out to be.
I watched it at Islington yesterday. Definitely one of those films you wouldn’t pay to watch, but certainly not a waste of an evening. Judging from the laughing at the cinema, the majority found it funny.
As for saying there were moments that made you "cringe", was that any different from the American Pie movies?
Saw this yesterday at Vue Islington. I was very surprised that there were 3 or 4 rows of reserved seats. I arrived just before the film started and the usher told me to sit between some other people (as if he was expecting lots of competition winners to arrive late?!?).
Anyway, I didn’t find the film that funny. Maybe if my boyfriend didn’t confuse the starting time of the film (again) and had accompanied me, I’d probably enjoy it more…
Saw this last night and I’m not sure if it was as I was expecting – I guess I was expecting it to be a bit funnier and not so deep re: relationships! Definitely came away with a feeling of maybe I should look at my own marriage – but that’s not really what I want out of a film! The location looked gorgeous though – I wouldn’t mind going there for a holiday (without the therapy of course!)
I saw this at Vue Sheffield like misseypootle, the atmosphere was good, and most people seemed to enjoy it (apart from the woman next to me who fell asleep at the start). Most people were laughing throughout, and I thought it was fairly good, but not good as expected. The Yoga guy who everyone found funny, I did not really. The guitar hero scene made me laugh (even though it was pointless, and boring for those who have never played guitar hero).
I would give it 7/10, but I thought it would be more comedy and less about relationships. However, unlike poppy27, I came out thinking "Thank god I’m not married!"
I saw this with my family last night at Watford Vue. It was much better than I expected. I thought the son was really funny!
Saw this last night at Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh and it was watchable but disappointing. Billed as "Refreshingly funny" I can only think maybe for American humour !! I thought the little boy was cute.
Only a 4 out of 10.
Started off well, some funny ball jokes at the start, a few funny island skits, but after the Guitar Hero plug it coasted on pure unadulterated Hollywood cheeeese til the credits! At least it wasn’t as bad as Four Christmases, Vince.
3.5/10 for us – it had a couple of laughs – but rather too stupid and predictable overall.
My main thoughts on it were – especially re: the Guitar Hero section – that I had never seen such in your face product placement in a film in my life!
Quite a few seemed to enjoy it though – a few laughs coming from around us. The group of young women next to my husband enjoyed every minute of it – while the older gentleman sitting next to me fell asleep after about 15 minutes!
I was there too – bumped into a good friend of mine who I had no idea was attending the movie too! And yes, there were 3 rows of reserved seating and not one seat was taken by those ‘comp winners’. Maybe they weren’t informed??
Anyway, enjoyed the film. Didn’t require much attention, but was quite entertaining. Lots of familiar faces and easy to follow storyline, even though it was predictable in parts.
6.5/10 from me, 6/10 from my bf.
Saw this at York Vue on Tuesday, pleasant enough film, easy to watch with some amusing parts. Shame there wasn’t any really laugh out loud moments, you know the ones where your tummy hurts
Very grateful for the night out but still a 7 for me
I saw it at Shepherds Bush. I haven’t been there for ages and forgot that they like to make you wait before you go in. Eventually about 6.20 we were allowed in. the film was worse than I expected. I was hoping that it would be as funny as SArah Marshall or The Hangover but it was pretty lame. I was laughing a few times, but mostly through embarrassment at scenes like the Yoga scene. NOt one likeable couple in the film and for me, all the cast who were supposed to be the sex symbols totally turned me off
Maybe if I was part of a couple I may have been more into it 3/10
hmm…who were meant to be the sex symbols?
Jason Bateman is kinda hot for an older guy but i would hardly call any of the other men sex symbols, all the girls were extremely pretty so i can see why guys like them.
Hey all singing i gotta agree with you. I though it was easy to watch and generally liked. I actually though the Yoga scene was quite funny maybe just because the guy wouldn’t stop ‘encouraging’ them. I tend to laugh at these things.
I went with the other half so maybe could nudge him a few times through the film.
I enjoyed it so I’d give it a 7. Not as funny as Hangover but I think 2 hilarious films maybe asking too much.
BTW the place i know isn’t real (or is it?) but it looked ……. A Maze Ing
This – ahem – younger man was 40 on the 14th January his year!
Mr Knobbly Nose does nothing for me, sorry.
Nor me, Beate. But lovesitx thinks he’s kinda hot for an older man so I thought I’d put in a photo for her.
IMDB seems to suggest the country they filmed in was Tahiti.
Nor me, Beate. But lovesitx thinks he’s kinda hot for an older man so I thought I’d put in a photo for her.
Aww thanks, yeah he isn’t that old but he does have 22 years on me so to me he is an older guy, and compared to the rest of the male cast he was definately the most attractive!
saw this film on tuesday….was brilliant. really funny and entertaining. definately recommend everyone to watch it
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/vi … on_tonight
I can’t find a review that goes higher than two stars. This one is a one star job:
http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/films/coupl … ewsletters
The ViewLondon Review
Review by Matthew Turner
14/10/2009
One out of Five stars
Running time: 107 mins
Hugely disappointing, painfully unfunny comedy that completely wastes its talented cast and then compounds the misery with a dismal script, an overdose of tired cliches and some shocking product placement.
What’s it all about?
Directed by Peter Billingsley, Couples Retreat stars Vince Vaughn and Malin Akerman as Dave and Ronnie, a married couple with two young children, who are persuaded to go on a couples retreat on an island resort in Bora Bora by their friends Jason and Cynthia (Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell), who announce that their marriage is in trouble after years of trying to conceive. They also rope in their married-since-high-school friends Joey and Lucy (Jon Favreau and Kristin Davis) and newly divorced Shane (Faison Love), who brings along his 20-something girlfriend (Kali Hawk).
However, the resort doesn’t turn out to be the paradise they’d been promised and instead involves a gruelling regime of 6am starts, punishing yoga classes and mandatory couples therapy sessions, with the resort manager (Peter Serafinowicz) threatening to send them home if they attempt to opt out. Unsurprisingly, it isn’t long before the cracks in each relationship start to show, but will the retreat bring them together or drive them apart?
The Bad
The only good thing about Couples Retreat is its extremely talented cast. Vaughn and Favreau have great form as a comic team and Bateman, Bell, Love, Davis and Akerman have all been very funny elsewhere. Unfortunately, the film completely wastes each and every one of them, with even the expected banter between Vaughn and Favreau falling short of expectations.
The lazy, heavily cliche-laden script is an utter disaster from beginning to end; none of the characters or relationships ring true, so it’s impossible to care whether any of them split up or not. They’re not even all that likeable and there’s no sense of real friendship between the men.
The Worst
However, the biggest problem is that there’s not a single funny moment in the entire film. On top of that, there’s a shocking scene in the middle (Vaughn and Serafinowicz duelling on Guitar Hero) that’s essentially five minutes of blatant product placement.
Worth seeing?
Couples Retreat is so unremittingly bad that it’ll actually make you angry. The only one doing any retreating here should be you, away from this film. Avoid.
Matthew Turner’s review seems to be nearly word for word on the cons similar to mine…
Totally agree.
I liked it! Was totally worth driving to the cinema (got really stuck in traffic on the way there, almost missed it!) and arranging a babysitter!
Found the jokes aimed at the American Audiences a tad annoying
5/10 – normally like Vince, but thought it was the wrong type of film for him! The rest very forgettable could have been played by most actors/actresses
It’s the St regis resort on the island of Bora Bora, which is part of French polynesia in the South Pacific.
tahiti is also in french polynesia, so pretty close.
I thought it was a shame they didn’t even bother to mention they were in somewhere so remote and so expensive – that place is about £1K a night for a dull room!!! it could have been Hawaii or mexico really!
Its certainly not worth paying to go and see.Some funny parts but not terribly good.T
ry to see it for free.