FILM REVIEW: Wanderlust

FILM: Wanderlust 
GENRE: Comedy
CAST: Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd, Justin Theroux and Malin Akerman
DIRECTOR: David Wain
YEAR: 2012

WHY ARE THE CAST FAMILIAR?: Being a Jennifer Aniston fan, I have seen quite a few of her films so I'll pick my favourites. Where it all began: as 'Rachel' in Friends, 'Jenny' in Marley and Me, 'Dr Julia Harris' in the totally and utterly hilarious Horrible Bosses and 'Grace' in Bruce Almighty. Firstly I know Paul Rudd from Friends- as the one who marries Phoebe, but also from... actually, I haven't seen him in anything else, but in case you have he played 'Tim' in Dinner for Schmucks and 'Pete' in Knocked Up. I wasn't familiar with Justin Theroux until I saw him with Jennifer Aniston in a magazine as her boyfriend, but apparently he played 'Megamind's Dad' in Megamind. Malin Akerman (a woman... Malin is quite an unusual name) was in Couples Retreat as 'Ronnie' and played 'Tess' in 27 Dresses.


My review:
After perusing the cinema listings- not really sure what I wanted to see, I eventually settled on this film: Wanderlust. I suppose- if I'm honest, perhaps I was a little swayed by the fact that Jennifer Aniston was in the film. I've always liked her, ever since I became a watcher of Friends. Usually, the films that she's in are generally rather good- albeit sometimes a little 'safe'. But whatever she's in, her comic timing is usually fabulous. However, what I will say is that I don't think that this is an example of her finest work. All the actors give great performances, but the story is- in parts, a little bit weird. I felt that this weirdness almost compromises some convincing performances, sometimes causing an uncomfortable viewing experience.

The plot basically follows the lives of Linda (Aniston) and her husband George (Rudd). In the midst of an oh-so-familiar recession, they decide to buy a property. Unfortunately just a few days later, said property is rendered worthless. As if that wasn't bad enough, on the same day George loses his job and Linda's pitch for a documentary goes disastrously wrong. In short, they are more-or-less left penniless and jobless. So not good.

With nowhere to go, George and Linda go to stay with George's brother who's only purpose in life (it seems), is to make George as miserable as possible. But before they get to George's brother, the couple stumble across a hippy commune called 'Elysium'. Realising that they can't stay with George's brother, George and Linda return to 'Elysium' to begin a new life as hippies. At this moment in time, this is when you- as an audience- have to put your open-minded thinking cap on!

Initially reluctant, Linda adapts to this new lifestyle whilst George feels more and more out of place. No matter how hard he tries to fit in, George never quite succeeds and is frequently shown up by Seth (Theroux).

When this free-spirited community is threatened by the corporate commercial world, the residents conquer and divide as they attempt to save their homes from being decimated. It is at this point, that I found I could empathise most with the characters. I found myself supporting their cause as the lifestyle that they lead seems idyllic and innocent- I didn't want the cold-hearted businessman to destroy this place of happiness that they had created. Perhaps this is born of a desire to be able to bottle their happiness and simplicity of life, and then inject it into reality? 'Elysium' was a place of calm where there was no bad news, corporate greed, commercialism or anything nasty. I found this to be a refreshing change and wished that that blissful ignorance to everything negative in the world could be made real.

Yes, there was a double walkout during this film. But I didn't feel the desire to leave. I wanted to know what happened to George and Linda. Yet when the final credits were rolling, I wasn't left thinking about George and Linda. I walked out of the cinema feeling almost bamboozled by what I'd seen- as if I'd been part of this dream that George and Linda live; that I was coming back to reality. Yes, that's it. This film- for 98 minutes, enables you to suspend reality and be a part of this totally alien lifestyle. All in all, a clever, funny and thought-provoking film. If your disillusioned with life, watch this and then you'll feel content by the end of this movie.

My rating: * * *