Sunday, March 11, 2012

Wanderlust

Starring Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux, Malin Akerman, Joe Lo Truglio, and Alan Alda

Directed by David Wain

Release Date: February 24th, 2012

George and Linda are a Manhattan with a few problems: George lost his job, Linda is directionless, and they now have to sell their home. Driving to stay with George's obnoxious brother, the couple stay on a commune called Elysium. Soon, they meet such unique people like nudist wine-make Wayne (Lo Truglio), perfectionist Seth (Theroux) and memory-deprived Carvin (Alda).  The couple are embraced by the free-wheelin' style of the hippies and soon become entranced to stay and "live each life to the fullest". Will this new lifestyle bring the couple closer, or drive them apart?

When I first saw the trailer for Wanderlust, I wasn't really sure if I would like it. Yes, it's directed by David Wain, member of the comedy trio STELLA and previously directed Wet Hot American Summer and Role Models; still, I wasn't sure about the film itself. I like Paul Rudd, as his likable every-man charm works wonders, but Jennifer Aniston has been hit or miss with her film career after TV's Friends left the air. That said, I'm glad I went because Wanderlust is a good comedy with a talented cast of comedians.

Wanderlust is an interesting portrayal of finding your own way by experimenting with different ways of life. You can see that in scenes that showcase the differences between life at Elysium and Rick (George's brother)'s home: the multiple Televisions vs little to no technology, the ownership vs communal sharing, and so forth. Many of the jokes are actually funny, having the actors improvise their lines to showcase the quirks of their characters. For instance, Rudd and Theroux have a hilarious scene where they "shout out their problems" where Rudd complains about little problems, Theroux berates him while he makes 'larger complaints'. Rudd also has a hilarious set of scenes where he tries to psyche himself up by repeating one line in several strange voices: you'll have to see it to believe it.

Rating: 4 out of  5 stars .

No comments: