In need of a guilty pleasure movie from back in the day that is a light-hearted watch withmostlyentertaining jokes but also questionable approaches that are thought-provoking? If so, it’s a good thing thatNetflixlistened and delivered. The streaming platform has finally brought back another hilarious rom-com from the 2000s, and it falls into the category of guilty pleasure.
Couples Retreatwas released in 2009 and was Peter Billingsley’s directorial debut. The movie follows four couples who spend a vacation together, mixed with marital difficulties on a tropical island. It has a funny storyline, but it wasn’t received well. Even thoughCouples Retreathas a terrible10% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the rom-com is an entertaining watch, nonetheless. From problematic stereotypes to a cast of noteworthy stars and tons of humor, let’s take a look at what the guilty pleasure on Netflix does right and what it does wrong.
Couples Retreat
Stereotypes in ‘Couples Retreat’
With the four married couples at the center of the story, therom-com from the 2000shas a handful of funny characters in store, but, of course, there has to be Salvadore, a hot yoga instructor who causes drama. Somehow, one jacked guy always appears out of nowhere, doesn’t necessarily do anything important, but leaves an impression. Remember the French scuba instructor with the eight-pack in Jennifer Aniston and Ben Stiller’s iconic rom-comAlong Came Pollyfrom 2004 or Chad Michael Murray’s Lucas in the 2024 rom-comMother of the Bride? It seems like it has always been a thing, and it might simply be a stereotype that is here to stay.
Apart from the hot side character that potentially causes some (steamy) trouble,Couples Retreat, unfortunately, uses racial stereotypes. The rom-com features the obligatory Black couple, as there are no other people of color in the movie, and proceeds to push their storyline into the background. Even though the movie is about all four married couples, the Black couple is barely visible on the American movie poster. The British marketing for the film even went as far as to completely erase the two actors from the poster, creating the impression thatCouples Retreatfeatures an all-white cast. This was certainly aracially-driven advertising practice forCouples Retreatwhich is beyond problematic and is necessary to point out.
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Couples Retreatalso doesn’t exactly thoughtfully explore the topic of therapy, as it is depicted as something shameful and should be avoided instead of acknowledging the great benefits that can stem from it. No one should ever be shamed for seeking therapy, and it should be recognized as a positive tool.
The Cast and Humor in ‘Couples Retreat’
Despite all these stereotypes and questionable approaches,Couples Retreatqualifies as one of thebiggest guilty pleasure movies, and the reason for this is the movie’s well-known cast members.It’s important to acknowledge the problematic side ofCouples Retreat, but the cast of the rom-com, who put in a significant amount of effort to put a smile on the viewers’ faces, is a noteworthy positive aspect. Apple TV+’sBad Monkeystar Vince Vaughn,27 Dresses’ Malin Akerman, Faizon Love from Ice Cube’sFriday,and Tasha Smith, who is known for her role in Netflix’s comedy series Survival of the Thickest, deliver an enjoyable performance.
They are joined by Jon Favreau, who plays Happy Hogan in the MCU,Sex and the Cityicon Kristin Davis, Jason Bateman from the sitcomArrested Development, and Kristen Bell fromNetflix’s hit comedyNobody Wants This. They are admired worldwide due to their humorous delivery of various characters and ability to turn pretty muchanythinginto something funny.The cast is the reason why many viewers disregard the negative aspects of the rom-com and simply look at it as a fun ride.
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Each cast member brings their signature humor to the movie, making it an ensemble of hilarious personalities who effortlessly bounce off each other’s comedic magic. One of these actors already has all it takes to turn a movie into a fun watch, but all of them together ensure a chaotic trip through one joke after another.
Couples Retreatmight not beone of the best rom-coms of all time, and it’s essential to be aware of its faults, question them, and know what could be done differently during this time, but this rom-com from the 2000s is still an entertaining movie that guarantees a fun movie night.Couples Retreatis one of those movies that can be enjoyed for what it is on the surface: a funny guilty pleasure.Couples Retreatis available to stream onNetflix.
