Couples Retreat

Four couples, all friends, descend on a tropical island resort. Though one husband and wife are there to work on their marriage, the others just want to enjoy some fun in the sun. They soon find, however, that paradise comes at a price: Participation in couples therapy sessions is mandatory. What started out as a cut-rate vacation turns into an examination of the common problems many face.

Couples Retreat was almost universally panned, with critics finding it a toothless, formulaic comedy that wastes a likable cast on thin material. The Favreau-Vaughn dynamic earned a few defenders, but most felt the tropical setting was more appealing than anything the script offered. Audiences were noticeably kinder than critics, suggesting the film plays better as undemanding home viewing than as a theater event.