I could cite any number of reasons pertaining to the current state of affairs as to why I went for something uncomplicated for today’s review of Couples Retreat (2009).  Then again, romantic comedies seem to be my go-to in any situation. There is also the fact that noted Chicagoan, Vince Vaughn (though he was born in Minneapolis), is in it.  I could, and will, talk about the fact that the word “retreat” is in the title.  It is something Catholics are called upon to do at different periods in their life, and sort of like what you see in the movie, they are intended as a spiritual recharge.  There is also the beautiful setting in which the events take place, and that is not just the tropics.  There are plenty of hints that the group of eight on which we focus come from Chicago, which is also beautiful.  Does all this add up to me enjoying the movie?  Not really, but let me tell you about it anyway.

During Couples Retreat’s opening credits, we see them tell us how relationships have worked throughout the years with archival footage.  It brings us up-to-date with the first two we meet, Dave (Vince Vaughn) and Ronnie (Malin Åkerman).  They are the suburban couple with the two sons.  He is consumed by work while she demands his attention for domestic projects, like renovating their house.  They have a birthday party planned, and they want to invite their friends.  The invitees include Joey (Jon Favreau) and Lucy (Kristin Davis).  They have a daughter that is about to enter college, and it is clear that the only reason they are keeping their marriage together is for the sake of their daughter.  One who is a little unsure of their attendance is Shane (Faizon Love).  He is recently separated from his wife, Jennifer (Tasha Smith), and is currently dating Trudy (Kali Hawk).  Trudy is half Shane’s age, and he can barely keep up with her.  Finally, we get to Cynthia (Kristen Bell) and Jason (Jason Bateman).  They live a structured life, and Jason is making everyone dread the festivities to come because he and his wife have one of their infamous presentations they want to give.  Thus, while magicians entertain the children, and Trudy, the others warily go upstairs to listen to Cynthia and Jason.  It turns out to be an announcement that they are contemplating a divorce.  However, before they file official papers, they have planned the eponymous trip.  There is a caveat.  Jason found a deal that gives them half off of an all-inclusive resort for couples if they can get their friends to come with them.  When the objection is raised that the others do not want to undergo therapy, which seems likely given some of the brochure material, Jason assures them that they can do whatever they want.  Dave and Ronnie are the main objectors, claiming there is no way they can get away.  Yet, with a little further convincing from Jason in the middle of the night, and their children urging them to go having already called their grandfather (Vernon Vaughn) to watch them, Dave and Ronnie assent.  This means everyone else is going.  While the surroundings are what they expect, the itinerary is not.  They are greeted by Sctanley (Peter Serafinowicz), the maître d’ of the establishment.  Instead of telling them they are allowed to have free reign of the island, including the singles section enticing Joey, they are to get up every morning at sunrise to meet with Marcel (Jean Reno).  He is the relationship guru, and with him they do couple building exercises.  From there, they are expected to meet together with a therapist to discuss any issues they are having.  It is all in keeping with the resort’s tagline, “stay together.”  All of it is of the utmost importance to Cynthia and Jason, particularly Jason.  They have been having trouble conceiving, which is the main reason why they are thinking about separation.  Jason has come seeking answers, and he is hyper-focused on getting them at every available moment.  In short, he is smothering Cynthia.  Still, even for Dave and Ronnie, the experience is revealing that perhaps they are not as strong together as they think.  There are a few testing moments along the way.  One of the biggest, emotionally and literally, comes in the form of their muscular yoga instructor, Salvadore (Carlos Ponce).  Clad in only a speedo, his instruction is just shy of being actual sex.  The more serious situation occurs when the bored Trudy goes missing.  Jason begins panicking because it has been made clear that if they do not complete the course as a whole, they will all be forced to leave.  Thus, he is frantically trying to get everyone to go look for her.  Shane wants to find her because she is his girlfriend.  Yet, it is Joey who comes up with the plan.  He figures she has gone to the singles side, and he knows the way to go.  Unfortunately, this involves canoeing over open water at night.  When a sudden storm hits them, Jason’s stress level spikes.  Cynthia has finally had enough and she swims back to shore.  The long and short of all this is that the men and women get separated.  The women find their way to the island’s romantic waterfall where they are initially trying to comfort Cynthia, but are soon being entertained by Salvadore.  The men get to the singles side through their own set of hijinks, the women with Salvadore.  In the midst of all these young people partying, they all realize that they love one another.  As for Shane and Trudy, Shane comes to his senses regarding dating a younger woman, but is surprised to find Jennifer there looking for him.  Hence, everyone is happy, and in the morning, Marcel rewards them with giving them the freedom to do what they please for the rest of their stay.

One aspect of the island in Couples Retreat that I did not mention is the fact that the resort is called Eden.  That perked up my Catholic ears since the actual Eden was the Biblical paradise in which Adam and Eve existed before the fall.  Indeed, one could see this fictional getaway as the reason why God closed the Garden to us mere mortals.  Still, that is probably too on-the-nose to discuss from a Catholic perspective.  What I appreciate more is what I alluded to in the introduction.  Though there is nothing spiritual, at least in a Christian sense, about the movie, it does speak to a need we all have to take some time to ourselves for reflection.  That is what these people do, albeit more as a group than individually.  Yet, there are other comparisons to be made.  While watching it, I was reminded to an extremely limited degree of a retreat I went on last summer.  It was at the Gonzaga/Eastern Point Retreat House in Gloucester, Massachusetts.  In other words, on the other side of the world from the South Pacific, but still ocean side, if nothing else.  The real connection, though, is the itinerary, and herein lies the rub.  If these people were left to their own devices, then it would just be a vacation.  A retreat is directed.  For me and other Catholics who undertake such endeavors, it involves dedicated stretches of Mass, meals, reflection, prayer, and free time.  My last one had the added bonus of being a silent retreat.  Nowhere on the building’s ground are you allowed to talk, except on the days during which you check in when certain housekeeping matters need to be discussed, or when you meet with your spiritual director.  Otherwise, it is meant to be an extended period of quiet during which you encounter God more deeply.  A Scriptural reference for this is 1 Kings 19:11-13.  Elijah is called up to a secluded place, almost like Eden, where he experiences all manner of terrifying phenomenon until he hears the voice of God in the silence.

Unfortunately, there is little silence in Couples Retreat.  Then again, how entertaining would it be if it was just eight people keeping their mouths shut for two hours.  Or is it entertaining at all?  Either way, the best thing I can say for it, particularly as a practicing Catholic, is that everyone stays together that are married.  Otherwise, there is little value in seeing it.