It’s Time To Reconcile With Couples Retreat (2009), Now Streaming on Netflix

By Erik Hofmeyer

Every once in a while, a good example of a “tweener” movie pops up that straddles genres, and critics and audiences aren’t sure what to make of it. That was exactly the case with the 2009 “comedy” Couples Retreat co-written by Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn, and also starring Malin Akerman, Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell, Kristin Davis, Kali Hawk, and Faizon Love. It had sprinkles of comedy, romance, and some drama with its genuine commentary on relationships, but it didn’t go hard in any one area to make it bite or stand out.  

The plot focuses on four couples who take off to a tropical-island resort called “Eden” in support of one couple (Bell & Bateman) who were considering a divorce. Ironically, it’s nothing like the 90s flick Exit to Eden that marketed Dan Aykroid and Roise O’Donnell as police officers investigating a heist, but instead it delivered kinky sex resort escapades. Here, on this different Eden, the couples were thinking jet skis, partying, drinks, etc., however they were surprised the resort was indeed serious about a strict couples coaching program. As they reluctantly participated, all the couples realized they needed a tune-up. 

Critics were likely expecting an offshoot of Old School or Made but came out annoyed by the lack of edgy, uproarious laughter. Vince Vaughn and John Favreau had a proven writing history of authentic dynamic, sharp witted conversations, and heartfelt undertones, and that’s what they delivered. I’m not sure why audiences expected anything different. I’m sure people were also wondering “who is Hollywood to tell me what a healthy marriage looks like?” So, expectations were subverted, and the movie was hammered with a 10% critics score (39% audience score) on Rotten Tomatoes.

Here are a couple reasons why Couples Retreat should be revisited. 

A “streaming movie” in disguise.

Couples Retreat would be under-whelming experience in a theater, but it’s way better than most of the original “romantic comedies” in the past few years. I’d say the only recent rom-com better than Couples Retreat would be Anyone But You, but I digress. 

Screen Rant published a neat article in January 2024 when fellow “rotten” (49% Rotten Tomato score) and 2009 movie, The Proposal, made its way to the Netflix Top 10 list 15 years after its release. The article discussed how new rom-coms are released fairly regularly on streaming platforms with much lower budget productions. For example, Couples Retreat had a $60M budget. In contrast, Anyone But You had a budget of $25 million, and an AI search estimated the average rom-com movie budget in the past 5 years is somewhere in the neighborhood of $30 million. Additionally, newer rom-coms typically don’t land the big-name actors of past years, with the exception of Jennifer Lawrence in No Hard Feelings. It goes to show that there’s still interest in the genre, and it’s a matter of time before other overlooked rom-coms resurface.

Couples Retreat would fit in perfectly today as streaming services crank out all kinds of hybrid, genre blending movies for more diverse audience bases. There’s more room to create with dramedies, adult animation, superhero dark comedy, etc. Take a look at Richard Linklater’s Hit Man, for example. There are elements of comedy, thriller, and romance in this big “hit.” There’s lots of room for these types of hybrid topics that don’t fit cleanly into one box. 

Favreau’s and Vaughn’s script was more original than the audience realized.

• Most movies or shows about groups clustered at a beautiful destination revolve around a juxtaposition between the gorgeous scenery and something nightmarish or a scathing societal critique. For example, The Banshees of Inisherin, Midsommar, or The Beach. Whereas Couples Retreat used the beautiful destination as a tool for positive outcomes.

• It was a rom-com by committee. The movie strayed from the rom-com mold by featuring four featured couples instead of one couple. Each had their own distinct storyline and rom-com tropes of “lightbulb moments,” “grand gestures,” and happy endings. 

• The “great sidekicks” trope was substituted with funny supporting characters on the island. For example, Ken Jeong pulled off a fantastic therapist and delivered some of the funniest lines in the movie about hypothetical guns and comparing Bateman’s character’s approach to the marriage as “puppy cradle death syndrome.” 

• A search on IMDB about “marriage counseling movies” unearths a pretty light list of results. The psychology-angle seems to be dominated in the TV content realm with shows like “Shrinking,” the Frasier reboot, etc.

Summary
Ultimately, Couples Retreat was successful as it hauled in $171 million in sales. Critics weren’t as kind as it was hammered as “tepid,” “lethargic,” or taking too long to get moving. Critics weren’t necessarily wrong, however, the movie should be revisited because it was on an unconventional island (pun intended) in a sea of other high-profile rom-coms. Instead of relying on raunch or pushing comedy in the audience’s face, Couples Retreat tried to capture relatable themes, such as the dangers of pushing off vacations or rediscovering spontaneity, into relatable storylines without getting into too much melodrama. Writing an uplifting comedy about marriage counseling is a tall task, which we think is ripe for re-discovery on Netflix.