After directing, writing and producing so many of the best comedies of the past decade, the Apatow comedy machine continues to churn out movie after movie and they’re back again, this time reuniting director David Wain with Paul Rudd, star of Wain’s Wet Hot American Summer and Role Models, for this likeable, often hilarious comedy.
Wain’s films tend to find a middle ground between the heart and wit of Apatow’s own movies and the wild caricature of Adam McKay and Will Ferrell’s over the top comedies. Like his previous work, Wanderlust falls right into that category, a broad and breezy comedy that mines it’s silly sitcom scenario for a good deal of laughs while relying on his talented comedy ensemble, including numerous The State alumni, to take it to another level.
Along for the ride this time opposite Rudd is Jennifer Aniston. They play George and Linda, a married couple who are just getting on the property ladder in New York when George abruptly loses his job, meaning they can’t sustain the payments on the ‘micro loft’ they just shelled out for. Without any other options, the couple set off for Atlanta to stay and work with George’s loudmouth brother Rick (Ken Marino, who also co-writes) but on the way they stumble upon Elysium, an ‘intentional community’ that seems a whole lot like a hippy commune. After spending the night there, they head to Atlanta but before long the crass bullying of Rick is too much for them and they return to embrace the carefree lifestyle of Elysium.
Once Wain sets this up, he lets his characters run wild for a little bit. Most notable amongst the commune characters is the leader Seth, played by Justin Theroux in a wonderful comedic performance. Playing a somewhat clichéd cult leader character, Theroux does a great job of making Seth seem fresh and funny with his unique cadence and ridiculous platitudes as well as an outdated knowledge of technology which becomes one of the film’s best running gags.
While Seth has his eye on Linda, elsewhere in the camp is the gorgeous Eva (Malin Ackerman) who likes George and suggests that they should make love sometime as ‘free love’ is something Elysium advocates. George is reluctant and begins to become disillusioned with life in the commune which is a stark contrast to Linda who becomes steeped in Seth’s ideals. Aniston spends the first third of the movie as the uptight one so it’s a nice change of pace to have her and Rudd switch roles as they adapt to their new lives in a different way. It’s nice to see Aniston loosen up in the later acts but it’s also great to see Rudd reprise the awkward, square schtick that was so hilarious in I Love You, Man. The best example of this comes in the film’s funniest scene as George tries to talk dirty to himself in the mirror to cringe worthy effect.
A rather predictable subplot emerges involving a big corporation coming in to bulldoze Elysium but this never really takes over the film; instead the focus remains on the George and Linda’s relationship. There’s nothing here that hasn’t been done before and isn’t entirely predictable but it’s a good spirited film that gets by on it’s easy going humour and loveable cast. Rudd and Aniston are both gifted comedy actors and Theroux hangs with them here too. Marino’s arrogant asshole Rick is one of the most annoying characters in recent memory but there are still laughs to be had from his crude behaviour and crumbling marriage. There are also fun supporting turns from Alan Alda as the camp’s acid-fried founder, Joe LoTruglio as a wine-making nudist author and Lauren Ambrose as a soon to be mother.
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