The Screening Log - blogging film 24/7

Seen on: October 6, 2009

The players: Director: Peter Billingsley, Writers: Dana Fox, Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Cast: Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Faizon Love, Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell, Malin Akerman, Jean Reno.

Facts of interest: None.

The plot: Four couples travel to a resort on a tropical island and soon realize they are forced to partake in therapy sessions.

Our thoughts: “Couples Retreat” is a totally forgettable comedy. There, I said it. It’s neither refreshing nor really funny, spending more than 100 minutes focusing on four simpleminded couples incapable of dealing with the problems in their relationships. Despite a couple of decent moments, this one’s a big drag, folks.

Print Article tagged

Couples Retreat,

Faizon Love,

Vince Vaughn in

Wednesday

01Jul2009

Trailer for 'Couples Retreat' with Vince Vaughn

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 12:38AM | By

How about an awkward vacation with Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman and Jon Favreau? That's what's on the menu in Peter Billingsley's upcoming comedy "Couples Retreat," which is due in theaters Oct. 9, 2009.

A first trailer for the comedy has popped up online, and you can check it out below. The footage did not entirely win me over, but I believe this is actually something that could be pretty funny.

The film follows four couples who spend some time at a tropical island resort, where they quickly find out that participation in a couple therapy program is mandatory. Jean Reno plays a therapist and the owner of the resort.

The interesting cast also includes Faizon Love, Kristen Bell, Malin Akerman, Tasha Smith and Kristin Davis. Favreau wrote the film based on an idea by Vaughn.

Print Article tagged

Vince Vaughn in

Monday

09Mar2009

Daily news dose: Rita Wilson joins Nancy Meyers comedy; Dakota Fanning confirmed for 'New Moon'

Monday, March 9, 2009 at 4:42PM | By

Here's your dose of film news for March 9, 2009:

• Rita Wilson is the latest to join Nancy Meyers' upcoming untitled Universal comedy, which also stars Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, Zoe Kazan, Lake Bell and Hunter Parrish. Streep is expected to play a woman caught in a romantic triangle with two men. Wilson plays one of her friends. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Malin Akerman and Ryan Phillippe are set to star in Steven Silver's indie drama "The Bang Bang Club," based on the memoir by Greg Marinovich and Joao Silva. Akerman plays the photo editor in a group of photogs capturing the bloody days in apartheid-era South Africa. (Variety)

• We've heard the rumors already, but now it's official: Dakota Fanning is on board to play Jane in Chris Weitz's upcoming "Twilight" sequel "New Moon." People calls her character "a sinister vampire with an angelic exterior who works for the Volturi." The film opens this November.

• Rupert Friend and Clemence Poesy have joined the cast for Benoit Philippon's "Lullaby for Pi," according to the Hollywood Reporter. It's a romantic drama about a jazz singer (Friend) who, after the death of his wife, runs into a mysterious woman (Poesy).

Print Article tagged

The Bang Bang Club in

Casting,

News

Saturday

07Mar2009

Movie Review: "Watchmen" - Franck's take

Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 7:01PM | By

Seen on: March 6, 2009

The players: Director: Zack Snyder, Writers: Alex Tse, David Hayter, Cast: Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Patrick Wilson

Facts of interest: Based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

The plot: In an alternate 1985, someone is killing former costumed heroes, inspiring the few who remain to don their disguises again to uncover the truth.

Our thoughts: I never read Alan Moore’s graphic novel and I probably won’t get to it in the near future, but considering all the exciting trailers, spots and clips I’ve seen over the past months, I admit I walked into “Watchmen” with incredibly high expectations. In fact, I was dying to see what all this recent hype was all about.

4 Comments |

Print Article tagged

Zack Snyder in

Thursday

06Nov2008

New ‘Watchmen’ video journal debuts online!

Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 4:02PM | By

I thought the new “Pink Panther 2” was going to ruin the rest of my day, but luckily, MySpace recently added an all-new “Watchmen” video journal. And yeah, it’s awesome.

This time around, the clip focuses on the women in Zack Snyder’s anticipated movie, which will finally open March 6, 2009. Indeed, the wait will be over soon.

As you can see after the jumo, Carla Gugino, who stars as Sally Jupiter / Silk Spectre, and Malin Akerman, who’s on board as Laurie Juspeczyk / Silk Spectre II, briefly discuss the relationship between their characters.

Print Article tagged

Zack Snyder in

Wednesday

15Oct2008

‘Couples Retreat’ guys find their women

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 3:22PM | By

Kristen Bell, Malin Akerman and Kristin Davis are in for Peter Billingsley’s upcoming comedy “Couples Retreat,” according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The plot follows four couples who spend some time at a tropical island resort. Although one of them is there to work on their damaged marriage, the other couples soon discover that participation in the resort’s couple therapy program is mandatory.

Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman and Faizon Love are already on board. Favreau also wrote the screenplay, based on an idea by Vaughn.

Bell teams up with Bateman, Davis stars as Favreau’s wife, and Akerman hooks up with Vaughn.

Bell most recently starred in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” She recently wrapped Mark Steven Johnson’s “When in Rome,” and she’s currently doing voice work for “Astro Boy.” Davis’ last big-screen appearance was in “Sex and the City.”

As for Akerman, she was last seen alongside Katherine Heigl in “27 Dresses.” Her next major role is Laurie Juspeczyk / Silk Spectre II in Zack Snyder’s “Watchmen.”