The idea of giving up all your earthly possessions and reuniting with nature is a fairly common one, though most of us don’t actually do it. It does some pretty idyllic – getting back to a simpler time, not worrying about money or technology, and embracing a community wherein you are welcomed with open arms. Of course, most of us never think about the fact that you’d have to see strangers’ penises everywhere. This is the problem facing the lead characters in David Wain’s new film, Wanderlust. They give up their floundering Manhattan careers in favor of joining a hippie commune, only to quickly discover it’s not quite what they had in mind. Hilarity ensues. The film is pretty by-the-numbers from a plot point of view, but it makes up for it with ridiculous characters spouting crazy dialogue in outrageous situations. If you’re going to see a comedy for plot, then you’re probably a weirdo anyway.The film follows George and Linda, played by Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston, two New Yorkers who’ve just bought a very small studio apartment (or a “micro-loft”) on the Upper West Side for entirely too much money only to lose their respective work situations and have to leave the city. This is yet another movie where the economy is the catalyst for everything that happens. We don’t spend too much time in New York as the couple is forced to move in with George’s wealthy and vile porta-potty salesman brother Rick (Ken Marino) in Atlanta. On the way, the couple stays at an out-of-the-way Bed & Breakfast that turns out to be an “intentional community” of earthy, pot-and-folk-music types. This one night turns out to be so fantastic that George soon convinces Linda that they should move there, however George realizes he’s made a huge mistake when the commune’s charming lack of doors, over-sharing group circles, and rampant male nudity begins to take a toll. Things really get messy when the group’s Messianic leader, Seth (Justin Theroux), decides he wants to make free love with Linda. Hilarity ensues.Hilarity really does ensue and every member of the film’s impressive comedic cast delivers memorable performances. Director David Wain, a member of the influential sketch comedy groups “The State” and “Stella” co-wrote the screenplay with Ken Marino, another “State” alum, and they pack the film with nearly every member of that group as well as a bevy of other really talented and funny people. Rudd is doing his usual sarcastic guy routine, but he’s likeable and funny and makes for a good anchor for the rest of the shenanigans. Aniston gives one of her best performances here as someone who’s trying to make the best of a situation and ends up really taking to it. Theroux is hilarious with a big beard and long hair playing a mixture of guru and Ron Burgundy. Alan Alda turns in a particularly funny performance as the commune’s founder, who rides around in a Rascal scooter and has acid flashbacks every five minutes. Another surprise is Lauren Ambrose, from TV’s Six Feet Under among many other things, who is perfect as a pregnant space cadet flower child. Other cast members include Malin Akerman, Joe Lo Truglio (you see an awful lot of his junk), Kathryn Hahn, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Jordan Peele, Todd Barry, and Michaela Watkins. Like I said, impressive cast.The film was produced by Judd Apatow and there are a few instances of his trademark “turn the camera on and see what happens” style of making comedies. A lot of times I think these scenes are fatuous and self-serving, however in this case they’re only used in specific places and always to the benefit of the movie. One scene that comes to mind is when Rudd talks to himself in the mirror, trying to psych himself up for a sexual encounter with Akerman’s character after getting the go-ahead from Aniston. He launches into a litany of disgusting and graphic references that are hilarious because it’s clear he doesn’t know how to talk that way. This goes on as long as it needs to and doesn’t overstay it welcome. Wain is a good enough comedy director to know when enough is enough, hence why this film is only 98 minutes as opposed to Apatow’s directorial outings which breeze past the two hour mark without looking back. Comedies should not be over two hours long. Fact.I laughed out loud several times during the movie, far surpassing the three-laugh rule for good comedies, mostly due to the clever and well-executed bits. There are places where the plot has to become involved and these are bit clunky and you can see the ending coming a mile away, however these are just window dressing. Wanderlust has a solid concept and great jokes and that’s what you want in a comedy. If you were a fan of “The State” or of David Wain’s other films, you’ll probably enjoy this one a whole lot.
The idea of giving up all your earthly possessions and reuniting with nature is a fairly common one, though most of us don’t actually do it. It does some pretty idyllic – getting back to a simpler time, not worrying about money or technology, and embracing a community wherein you are welcomed with open arms. Of course, most of us never think about the fact that you’d have to see strangers’ penises everywhere. This is the problem facing the lead characters in David Wain’s new film, Wanderlust. They give up their floundering Manhattan careers in favor of joining a hippie commune, only to quickly discover it’s not quite what they had in mind. Hilarity ensues. The film is pretty by-the-numbers from a plot point of view, but it makes up for it with ridiculous characters spouting crazy dialogue in outrageous situations. If you’re going to see a comedy for plot, then you’re probably a weirdo anyway.The film follows George and Linda, played by Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston, two New Yorkers who’ve just bought a very small studio apartment (or a “micro-loft”) on the Upper West Side for entirely too much money only to lose their respective work situations and have to leave the city. This is yet another movie where the economy is the catalyst for everything that happens. We don’t spend too much time in New York as the couple is forced to move in with George’s wealthy and vile porta-potty salesman brother Rick (Ken Marino) in Atlanta. On the way, the couple stays at an out-of-the-way Bed & Breakfast that turns out to be an “intentional community” of earthy, pot-and-folk-music types. This one night turns out to be so fantastic that George soon convinces Linda that they should move there, however George realizes he’s made a huge mistake when the commune’s charming lack of doors, over-sharing group circles, and rampant male nudity begins to take a toll. Things really get messy when the group’s Messianic leader, Seth (Justin Theroux), decides he wants to make free love with Linda. Hilarity ensues.Hilarity really does ensue and every member of the film’s impressive comedic cast delivers memorable performances. Director David Wain, a member of the influential sketch comedy groups “The State” and “Stella” co-wrote the screenplay with Ken Marino, another “State” alum, and they pack the film with nearly every member of that group as well as a bevy of other really talented and funny people. Rudd is doing his usual sarcastic guy routine, but he’s likeable and funny and makes for a good anchor for the rest of the shenanigans. Aniston gives one of her best performances here as someone who’s trying to make the best of a situation and ends up really taking to it. Theroux is hilarious with a big beard and long hair playing a mixture of guru and Ron Burgundy. Alan Alda turns in a particularly funny performance as the commune’s founder, who rides around in a Rascal scooter and has acid flashbacks every five minutes. Another surprise is Lauren Ambrose, from TV’s Six Feet Under among many other things, who is perfect as a pregnant space cadet flower child. Other cast members include Malin Akerman, Joe Lo Truglio (you see an awful lot of his junk), Kathryn Hahn, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Jordan Peele, Todd Barry, and Michaela Watkins. Like I said, impressive cast.The film was produced by Judd Apatow and there are a few instances of his trademark “turn the camera on and see what happens” style of making comedies. A lot of times I think these scenes are fatuous and self-serving, however in this case they’re only used in specific places and always to the benefit of the movie. One scene that comes to mind is when Rudd talks to himself in the mirror, trying to psych himself up for a sexual encounter with Akerman’s character after getting the go-ahead from Aniston. He launches into a litany of disgusting and graphic references that are hilarious because it’s clear he doesn’t know how to talk that way. This goes on as long as it needs to and doesn’t overstay it welcome. Wain is a good enough comedy director to know when enough is enough, hence why this film is only 98 minutes as opposed to Apatow’s directorial outings which breeze past the two hour mark without looking back. Comedies should not be over two hours long. Fact.I laughed out loud several times during the movie, far surpassing the three-laugh rule for good comedies, mostly due to the clever and well-executed bits. There are places where the plot has to become involved and these are bit clunky and you can see the ending coming a mile away, however these are just window dressing. Wanderlust has a solid concept and great jokes and that’s what you want in a comedy. If you were a fan of “The State” or of David Wain’s other films, you’ll probably enjoy this one a whole lot.
