Couples Retreat (PG-13, 2009)

common sense media says

Vaughn/Favreau marriage comedy has lots of sex, drinking.


parents & educators say
  • 100% say sexual content is an issue
  • 71% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this comedy starring Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreauwas originally rated R for sexual content and language, but the MPAAlowered the rating to PG-13 after an appeal. But there's no shortage of sexual innuendo remaining, as well as jokes about adultery, "happy endings," sexual frequency, erections, and the like. Couples are shown kissing passionately (often clothed in only bathing suits), one character's naked rear is shown, and a yoga class gets very suggestive. The language includes regular use of "s--t," "ass," "bitch," and more, and the characters (one of whom is only 20, a fact that's mentioned several times) drink frequently. That said, underneath it all, there's a surprisingly sweet message about the importance of marriage and commitment ... which may not be of much interest to teens, though they'll likely still be drawn to the movie by the cast.

Positive messages: Although the four central couples go through many ups and downs over the course of the movie, ultimately the story is very pro-marriage/commitment. None of the couples has a "perfect" relationship, and they all have to put in real effort to make their partnerships succeed.
Positive role models: None of the characters are perfect, though some have more flaws than others (Joey is openly lecherous for much of the movie, Dave can be self-centered, Jason and Cynthia come across as uptight and controlling, etc.) -- but they all learn something over the course of the movie. Ronnie and Dave have the most loving and healthy relationship in the movie, though they still have issues they have to deal with. One couple's decision to break up because he didn't want to pretend to be someone he wasn't for her is important for teenagers contemplating romantic relationships to understand.
Violence: Dave gets splashed with a bloody bucket of chum and may have been nipped by a small shark (but the scene is funny, not scary). In another comedic bit, a rainstorm tips a couple out of their canoe, and they have to be saved by their friends. In an early scene, Dave trains his bedside gun on a suspected intruder.
Sex: Lots of jokes (verbal and visual) about adultery, masturbation, erections/"happy endings," and several very lewd yoga positions (complete with suggestive thrusting). A man's erection is clearly outlined under a sheet. Couples make out passionately and are shown in bed together, but there aren't any full-fledged sex scenes. Two shots of partial nudity -- one played for laughs (a characterdoesn't wear boxers, so when he's asked to strip down to his underwear,the audience sees his naked rear) and one that's more about ogling a dripping wet man -- but no sensitive body parts shown. Lots of skimpy bathing suits and beach wear, as well as some sensuous dancing and massage.
Language: Although there are no F-bombs, there are plenty of uses of "s--t," "a--hole," "bitch," and derivatives of those words, as well as "hell," "damn," "hump," "twatting" (used in place of "tweeting"), "balls," "screw," "oh my God," etc.
Consumerism: Apple computers and Guitar Hero are shown frequently, with the video game gettng mentioned as part of Dave's work and even played during a fairly long scene. Also mentions of Froot Loops, PowerPoint, Sandals Resorts, and Applebee's; charaters drink Budweiser.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Adults on vacations drink (wine, beer, hard liquor/mixed drinks) and get tipsy/drunk pretty frequently, especially once they all go to the singles resort, where people are doing body shots and more. A 20-year-old character (who's the most avid partier of the bunch) has booze poured directly into her mouth at one point.

More on Couples Retreat

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the movie's message about relationships. Is there anything here that can be applied to issues of teen sexuality?
  • The movie was originally rated R before being downgraded to PG-13. Is that rating appropriate, or is it too mature for a PG-13? Why do you think the filmmakers pursued the lower rating?
  • What can the four couples teach teens about relationships?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Vince Vaughn is Dave, a video game salesman married to Ronnie (Malin Akerman), who's busy raising their two kids and renovating their home. When their close friends, buttoned-up Jason (Jason Bateman) and Cynthia (Kristen Bell), ask them and two other couples -- dissatsfied Joey (Jon Favreau) and his equally unhappy wife Lucy (Kristin Davis) and newly divorced Shane (Faizon Love) and his eye-candy girlfriend Trudy (Kali Hawk) -- to go on an all-inclusive COUPLES RETREAT in order to save their marriage, Dave and Ronnie are the first to reluctantly say yes. Once on the tropical island, they find out that even the couples who didn't think they needed marital advice must participate in the relationship-building program -- which is replete with mandatory therapy sessions, yoga, and fasting. As the week progresses, the four couples start wondering whether the resort is a relationship paradise or hell.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

This is a family affair for Favreau and Vaughn (who also co-wrote and produced the film, which is directed by their pal Peter Billingsley), and it shows. There's a pleasant ease to the way the two men (along with their regular on-screen buddies) exchange jokes and poke barbs at each other. They're a long way from those single Swingers, but they've still got a hilarious rapport that makes audiences guffaw more than this middling comedy deserves. Unfortunately the movie feels overlong (it could've used a sharper edit), and except for Dave and Ronnie, the couples aren't really likable -- especially Joey and Lucy, who spend most of their time looking for younger hotties to ogle.

In addition to the eight leads, there are several noteworthy performances among the hotel staff. Cuban-American dreamboat Carlos Ponce (best known to Spanish-language soap fans) is a definite scene-stealer as Salvadore, the ripped, teeny-briefs-wearing yoga instructor. Jean Reno, always a delight to see, plays New Agey resort founder Marcel, and English comedian Peter Serafinowicz makes his Hollywood comedy debut with expert smirks, creepy smiles, and hilarious over-pronunciation as resort facilitator Sctanley (yes, that's spelled correctly). No, Vaughn and Favreau haven't surpassed their Swingers legacy, but this otherwise mediocre vacation comedy is saved by how charming they and their troupe are to watch on screen.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: Peter Billingsley
Cast: Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Kristen Bell, Vince Vaughn
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 105 minutes
Theatrical release: October 9, 2009
DVD release: February 9, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: on appeal for sexual content and language
Watch our review

This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
 
 

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What parents & educators say

15
Based on 7 parent & educator reviews:
  • 100% say sexual content is an issue
  • 71% say language is an issue
  • 71% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking

Most useful reviews by all members

 
Not for kids...adults--just okay.
Beautiful scenery...had some funny moments but it was not great...I had hoped for better...Vince Vaughn and Jason Bateman acted it out well...but somehow the story just putzes...nothing in this movie is for kids.

Maxmum
parent of 8 year old
 
Youth should be encouraged to retreat from this!
I myself did not overly enjoy this movie. The cast is great, but the delivery is pretty poor. Regarding kids seeing it, I think only older teens would be interested... I would advise against it, as it is actually not as funny as the ads present, and there is mature content that is inappropriate (sexual), and that they wouldn't understand (marriage!).

ianmahabub
kid, 12 years old
 
Couples Retreat Has Iffy Stuff To 10 + 14
Couples Retreat Has Iffy Stuff To 10 + 14

roc2theEDGE
teen, 17 years old
 
funny
A good movie movie, pretty funny

BugGirl
kid, 13 years old
 
Perfect for adults, iffy for tweens
Good movie, but NOT for children. It's humorous, and in the end has a happy ending. *CHILDREN* DO NOT watch this movie with your parents! It's awkward, and has a lot of sexual scenes and talk. Great movie though!

 
Do yourself a favor and miss it
It is disappointing that the positive pro-marriage/commitment message they were trying to convey couldn't have been accomplished without the vulgarity and crudity. It should have been rated R.

zackaback
teen, 17 years old
 

ocie14
teen, 14 years old
 
bad movie
ughh this movie wasnt good. maybe i had 2 or 3 laughs but most or it was just boring convo and sex. dont watch it.

gibby84
adult
 
Fine 4 13 and Up
I thought this movie was a slapstick hilarious kind of funny, but there was some disturbing sexual scenes, more for comedy than anything else.

HenryRedJeanz
teen, 14 years old
 
A bit awkward to watch....:S
Kids, if you pick up this movie, DO NOT watch it with your parents! Luckily I didn't, I watched it with my brother and our friend, and THAT was awkward enough! There is lots of sexuality in this film. There is lots of talk about sex, erections, ejaculation (happy endings) and more, including several scenes where some very sexual yoga positions are portrayed, complete with thrusting..it's REALLY wrong. A man is being massaged and gets a massive erection and is moaning etc... an island is nicknamed Hump Island. There is a brief sexual scene, and lots of kissing throughout. Partial nudity is shown...a man takes his pants off and has no underpants on but we only see his backside and lots of gasping. A man is shown naked with his groin area being covered by a bush. Lots of sexual dancing between couples, with thrusting etc. There is also a scene where a woman is sitting on top of her partner, and she drips hot candle wax on his chest (very wrong), and a man looks at a picture of a scantily clad woman and begins to rub lotion into his stomach, but is interrupted..There is lots of talk about Guitar Hero and it is shown being played...some swearing too....it pretty much relies on sexual and crude humour, I didn't laugh much, and the couples are all shown fighting so that's not what I call good role models for kids watching it...it's a pretty bad movie, I think, but lots and lots and lots of sex, like WAY too much, and very awkward to watch, so I don't reccomend it, but if you do see it, be prepared..:/

LeoLuv99
kid, 12 years old
 
LOVED THIS!!! ha ha, DON"T WATCH THIS WITH YOUR PARENTS!!! VERY AWKWARD!!! BUT FUNNY!!! I watched this with my dad and mom ans on weird senses, i wanted to laugh so hard, but i couldn't! I watched this with my friends, we laugh all night long!!!

Aimeeblue
parent of 9 and 12 year old
 

Stiny
teen, 14 years old
 
I really liked this movie. However, there are some suggestive things. In one scene, a man's pants are pulled down and he is seen naked from behind. This is very brief though. In another scene, a yoga instructor does some lewd poses on both men and women (the instructor is male). There is also some drinking and getting drunk. In one scene, a woman leans over a bar and has alcohol poured into her mouth. Finally, there is some product placement for stuff like Apple, Starbucks, Guitar Hero, and Mocrosoft Powerpoint. Overall, great movie, but parents should preview the movie first before letting a kid see it.

ChickenOfTheWest
teen, 18 years old
 
Between Ok and Bad.
I'm not sure if the director wanted to make this film a comedy, or a romance. Many sexual references, but their usually watered down with a joke. Some partial nudity, but not too much of an issue. Adults will appriciate it more.

JWilliams303
teen, 17 years old
 
Not at all as funny as i thought it would be but it was pretty funny. It does contain a lot of sexual acts in the movie, but not at all really graphic. Definately would recommend this to any vince vaughn lovers.

beejaim
parent of 7 year old
 

 
Adult movie - not for kids
This movie has it's moments of real comedy but others were truely flat. It is a movie about real marriages and the problems that they may have. It should be more of a drama/comedy than just comedy. Not what my husband I expected on "date" night.

katiemay017
teen, 17 years old
 
good for kids 13+
very funny. i saw this with my friends and after u see this u get a lot of inside jokes. The movie is funny, but sad in parts. FUNNY... SEE IT!

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