Movies: Wanderlust
Friday, February 24, 2012
George and Linda (Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston) greet their first day in Elysium completely unaware of what lies ahead for them.
Photo: Gemma La Mana, © 2012 Universal Studios
We first meet George (Paul Rudd) and Linda (Jennifer Aniston) in the office of their real estate agent where they’re debating the purchase of a West Greenwich Village “micro-loft,” a real estate business code word for “efficiency apartment.” George has a well-paying job he hates and Linda’s latest project is a documentary about penguins with testicular cancer that she wants to sell to HBO. Then, in the first few minutes of Wanderlust George loses his job and they hit the road, headed to Atlanta to live with George’s obnoxious brother (script co-writer Ken Marino) who has promised him a job. Near Atlanta, they accidentally stumble into Elysium.
This is what anyone who remembers hippies would call a commune. But Elysium founder Carvin (Alan Alda) calls it an “integrated community.” Whatever it is, Elysium harks back to the days when people believed they could live together in peace and harmony, be vegans and not miss meat, sustain happy marriages in an environment of free love, take hallucinogens for clarity and, if they wish, be nudists among those who choose to wear clothing.
That’s the set-up — two up-tight, driven people are out of their element and must decide who they really are.
Complicating the issue is Seth (Justin Theroux), a good-looking, smooth-taking guy who spouts a line of meaningless crap to serve his own desires.
Co-writer David Wain (Role Models) and producer Judd Apatow have this kind of movie down to a science. Their product is often very funny, relatable and sharp. Wanderlust is no different.
The cast is first rate. It includes Linda Lavin, unrecognizable from her days on Alice, Lauren Ambrose, the redheaded sister on Six Feet Under, along with Malin Akerman and Joe LoTruglio, who has to be the least self-conscious person you’re likely to see in a mainstream film.
Wanderlust is mostly funny but could be a bit shorter. Paul Rudd here proves what a terrific actor he is as he goes through the many phases of his new life and tries to find himself again.
With no pretensions to be anything but a funny movie, Wanderlust succeeds. A word of caution, however: this film is rated R for good reasons. It includes one of the most harrowing childbirth sequences seen anywhere on film and lots of people get naked. If you can deal with that, you’ll have a good time.
(2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)
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