Tagline: It may be paradise… But it’s no vacation.
Dave (Vince Vaughn) and Ronnie (Malin Akerman) are the social epicenter of their group of friends. Over the years, they’ve built a full life through commitment to their kids, friends and work. After eight seemingly blissful years together, Jason (Jason Bateman) and Cynthia (Kristen Bell) are at a crossroads. The once-happy pair shocks their close friends-Dave & Ronnie, Joey (Jon Favreau) & Lucy (Kristin Davis) and Shane (Faizon Love) & his new girlfriend Trudy (newcomer Kali Hawk)-when they announce that they are considering a divorce.
In order to save their marriage, they’re making one last Hail Mary. Jason and Cynthia have discovered Eden Resort, a tropical island paradise in the South Pacific specializing in extensive couples therapy. But the only way they can afford to go is through the “Pelican Package,” Eden Resort’s group rate. It’s a win-win. While they get the counseling they need, their friends can bask on the white, sandy beaches, relax in the spas, ride jet skis and just enjoy themselves.
As tempting as it sounds (and as much as everyone wants to help Jason and Cynthia), there’s just no way they can all get away…until Dave & Ronnie agree to go. Now the four couples are on their way to paradise, and it’s “Game On” in the tropics. But there’s one small catch… The group discovers that ALL of the couples must partake in the unorthodox counseling techniques of Eden Resort’s renowned “Couples Whisperer”- Monsieur Marcel (Jean Reno). It’s all or none. And if it’s none, they will all be sent home. The couples soon find out that not everything is as it seems, especially in their own relationships. What follows is a hilarious and heartfelt look at realworld problems faced by all couples.
About the Production
In 1996, Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau came onto Hollywood’s radar with the comedy Swingers. The film, written by Favreau, depicted the lives of two unemployed actors trying to score with the ladies and make it big in L.A. It became an instant classic, launching both men’s careers… and serving as the unlikely beginning for Couples Retreat. In 2007, the much-loved and often-quoted movie won the Guy Movie Hall of Fame Award at Spike TV’s Guys Choice Awards. Following the taping of the show, Vaughn and Favreau revisited one of their film’s haunts, The Dresden Room, to celebrate. There, Vaughn pitched Favreau the concept for Couples Retreat.
“I had this idea about a group of friends who are married and having typical relationship problems, with some being more extreme than others,” says Vaughn. “One of them was the catalyst who tells the others, `I found this place that is the Mecca for all things for couples.’ He needs his friends to go because the only way he and his wife can afford it is with the less expensive group rate. The other couples think it will be a great vacation, but when they get there they realize they must participate in all of the couples therapy exercises. The fun is in seeing all of their relationships put under a microscope.
“I had wanted to take normal people with everyday problems and put them in an exceptional setting,” continues Vaughn. “The story had to be relatable so audiences would see a bit of themselves in one of the four couples…and have some laughs at the situations and obstacles they face and must work through. I also wanted the script to have hope and wish fulfillment. Even though things can be trying, it’s better to love and work on the relationship than not to have it at all.”
Favreau was open to teaming with his longtime friend. “Vince approached me with the idea of collaborating together again for the first time in many years,” he says. “And when he pitched me the idea for Couples Retreat, I thought the concept was compelling.”
Vaughn also reached out to Scott Stuber, the producing partner with whom Vaughn had collaborated on the 2006 anti-romantic comedy and blockbuster hit The Break-Up, about reteaming on this film. “Vince and I always talk about new ideas to do together. When he told me about the concept for Couples Retreat, I thought it was a great way to explore relationships
Once Favreau agreed to write the screenplay with Vaughn and fellow comedy writer Dana Fox, the collaborators begin fleshing out a story. They focused on four Midwestern couples-the seemingly perfect couple Dave & Ronnie, the overly analytical Jason & Cynthia, the ready-to-split Joey & Lucy and the recently separated Shane & his 20-year-old girlfriend Trudy-whose relationships are put to the test at the resort.
For Favreau, the premise of the film was one he could relate to; this would be his most personal film since Swingers. “I have experienced marriage and having small children. It’s something I hadn’t explored yet.”
Stuber adds: “What I loved about the script was that it explored human behavior and relationships, and there was real hope and joy to it. I knew it would also be great to make this film with a group of us who are all friends. The more you can make films with people you share common sensibilities with, the more you want to keep replicating that experience.”
Vaughn’s search for a director began and ended with Peter Billingsley, who makes his directorial debut with Couples Retreat. Billingsley had an accomplished body of work as a producer, including production partnerships with Vaughn on Made, The Break- Up and Four Christmases, and with Favreau on Made, Zathura, Iron Man and the television project Dinner for Five. His desire to direct, however, began as a young actor when he was cast to play the BB gun-loving Ralphie in the holiday classic A Christmas Story.
“When we were shooting A Christmas Story, I spent a lot of time on set with director Bob Clark,” says Billingsley. “Over the years, I have been curious about his process, and he gave me the best piece of advice when I told him I wanted to be a filmmaker. He said `Get in the edit room, because that’s where you’ll learn how to make a movie.’ So I started spending as much time in postproduction as I could. I felt if directing was something that was meant to be, the right project would materialize.”
As a partner for the past several years in Vaughn’s Wild West Picture Show Productions, Billingsley had a relationship with Vaughn that made the choice a simple one. “Vince and I have a great shorthand, which comes from being collaborators and friends for such a long time,” notes the filmmaker. “Couples Retreat is our fourth movie together. Our earlier projects helped me prepare to direct this film. I understand how Vince likes to develop story and characters, and we both knew what we wanted to achieve with this film.”
Continue Reading and View the Theatrical Trailer
Couples Retreat (2009)
Directed by: Peter Billingsley
Starring: Kristen Bell, Kristin Davis, Malin Akerman, Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Jean Reno, Tasha Smith, Peter Serafinowicz, Jonna Walsh, Gattlin Griffith, Carlos Ponce
Screenplay by: Jon Favreau
Production Design by: Shepherd Frankel
Cinematography by: Eric Alan Edwards
Film Editing by: Dan Lebental
Costume Design by: Susan Matheson
Set Decoration by: Daniel B. Clancy
Art Direction by: Curt Beech, Clint Wallace
Music by: A.R. Rahman
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 on appeal for sexual content and language.
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Release Date: October 9, 2009
Visits: 212
