Couples Retreat

[MacGuffin]

Trailer here.

Release Date: October 9th, 2009 (wide)

Starring: Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Faizon Love, Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell, Kristin Davis, Jean Reno
 
Directed by: Peter Billingsley 

Premise: Four Midwestern couples embark on a journey to a tropical island resort. While one of the couples is there to work on their marriage, the other three set out to jet ski, spa and enjoy some fun in the sun. They soon discover that participation in the resort's couples therapy is not optional.

[SiliasRuby]

ehhhh...okay

[Pas]

looks a good movie to see with the wife. I like the cast

[SiliasRuby]

Jesus fuck, this is a horrendous movie. Everything falls flat. Well, except the chemistry between the actors. Yes, its quite a dream comic cast and an intriguing premise but my God, is it bad. On every level. The editing is out of this world jilted. The writing uninspired and direction way off. Make no mistake its not one of those films that its so bad it turns sublimely enjoyable after the first half and hour. I ADORE films like that. This is not one of those. Although I did love Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell, but I'm always happy whenever those two actors are in anything. I love those two like I love Rose McGowan, Elisha Cuthbert, Zooey Deschanel, and Julianne Moore. But I'm getting off topic.

Whatever you do, don't see this piece of shit.

[samsong]

peter billingsley is the kid from a christmas story.  wanted to make sure everyone was aware of that.

[Stefen]

Isn't he BFF with Favreau?

[SiliasRuby]

Yes, you are right Stefen. So much for giving jobs to your friends.

[Pas]

He hasn't changed one bit haha

this is making good money (35M) ... I thought this would be a good movie to watch with my lady, probably still gonna download it.

[MacGuffin]

Universal's UK 'Couples Retreat' Poster Brings Cries of Racism by Removing Black Actors

A racially-tinged advertising decision has gone awry for the movie "Couples Retreat."

Marketers of the Vince Vaughn comedy, which stars four couples in a tropical paradise, removed black actors Faizon Love and Kali Hawk from the promotional poster used in the United Kingdom after the U.S. version used all four couples. In response to outrage over the move, a Universal spokesman said the altered poster aimed "to simplify the poster to actors who are most [recognizable] in international markets."

While Love and Hawk aren't generally as well known as the film's other six stars, it's still a questionable motive. As noted in a 2007 New York Times article, American films with black stars typically struggle in the overseas market. According to the article, Will Smith, the undisputed king of the American box office, ranks no better than twelfth when it comes to ticket sales internationally. Simply put, said industry watcher James Ulmer, "The international marketplace is still fairly racist."

However, there's good news for those who believe the removal of Love and Hawk from the UK poster was racist: Universal issued a statement regretting any offense it caused, and the studio has scrapped all plans to use the modified poster in other overseas markets.

[Ravi]

The only ones not complaining are Faison Love and Kali Hawk.

[children with angels]

Because the original poster was obviously so proud to have them on it - they're barely visible...!

I don't know, I normally tend to be among the first paranoid, self-hating whites to cry racism on things like this, but I really think it's more likely to be about star power in this case. Speaking as someone in the UK who is pretty well exposed to US movies and pop culture, neither Faizon Love nor Kali Hawk mean anything to me as names.