3 gibbles out of 5
Director: David Wain
So I say this fully aware that he’s worked on some things that I’ve enjoyed – including this movie – and somethings that are wholly original and awesome – like Freaks and Geeks, but… Judd Apatow can kiss my ass. ‘Wanderlust’ has all sortsa great laughs and moments, but it also has a recognizable Apatow touch of sentimentality that keeps it from achieving the batshit hilarity of The State or Wet Hot American Summer or the out-of-order bizareness of The Ten or even the momentum of Role Models.
Good summary? Thanks. Here’s the rest:
Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston are an average average couple living in New York, Rudd making money and Aniston consistently pursuing different dreams. This average average and realistic setup already bears the great watered down Apatow-produced touch. Thankfully with Wain and co-Stater (and generally in the movies) Ken Marino scripting, things liven up soon enough with fringe/uncomfortable humor. But then back to the plot. Rudd is fired, Aniston runs out of dreams, and the couple has just put down dollars on an expensive apartment which they vacate in favor of traveling to Georgia to stay with Rudd’s brother and get their bearings. On the way they happen upon ‘Elysium,’ which turns out to be a commune stocked with the kind of jokes that you find in communes.
The general setup and pacing are at fault. The springboard – the Wanderlust – stalls when our principles get stuck in the commune for the majority of the movie. Potentially hilarious setups stop short of going all-out and there’s that aforementioned sentimentality that sneaks in.
…but… it is funny. Despite the obvious jokes, they aren’t milked as much as included out of necessity, glimmers of oddball humor bubbling into some really great belly laughs and enough unfunny funny moments to get you through the duller spots. The cast is eminently likeable – Rudd as always, but Aniston is the surprise, having molded her Friendsy mouseyness into a pretty sharp comedic sense of timing. The supporting cast does its job and the film moves forward.
If you liked any previous Apatow projects you’ll be at home. If you’re looking for a State-style Wain film, you’ll swear you wandered into an Apatow movie. Very funny at parts, very average in a lot of parts.
Alas, they're just orange peels on a stick.
vaguely-offensive 