We're the Millers (C or 2/4 stars)
'We're the Millers' (directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber & penned by 6 writers ... problem #1) is one of those feel-good raunchy comedies. Problem is ... I only chuckled a few times. It's not a horrible movie. If you know me, you know that a comedy has to be very funny and/or be unique, to get a rise out of me. The problem with 'We're the Millers' is that nothing about it is unique. The plot is absurd, without being interestingly absurd. The jokes, while some are funny, have all been done before. And saying "f*ck" at the beginning or end of any sentence does not do anything other than substantiate the film's R-rating. One of the big draws of the film is that Jennifer Aniston's character does a strip tease in translucent underwear. I enjoyed this quick blip on a cinematic moment. But they could have cut this scene & honed a better script, instead. Besides, you could find photos/videos of Aniston (or any hot woman) online anytime.
The premise for 'We're the Millers' is, shall we say, thin. David (Jason Sudeikis, ugh) is a small-time drug dealer (mostly marijuana) who ends up in a baaaaad situation when some thugs steal his stash & $$. Now, about $40,000 in debt to his supplier (Ed Helms, ugh) without any real way to pay. The brilliant solution (sarcasm reigns supreme here) is for David to do a drug-run: head over to Mexico, pick up a bit of high-grade weed, & bring it back across the border to the states. For all this trouble, David's debt will be paid off & he'll get $500,000. David agrees, reluctantly.
Now, how's this for a plot device (or else ther'd be no movie) ... vacationing families are routinely ignored at border crossings (apparently), so David decides to 'adopt' a wife & 2 kids for said trip. Joining him are a stripper, Rose (Jennifer Aniston); a homeless girl, Casey (Emma Roberts, Julia's somewhat irksome niece); & a boy with an absentee mom, Kenny (Will Poulter, of Son of Rambow, Narnia: Dawn Treader). Faking it as The Millers, they head to Mexico, obtain the drugs, then cross back into the states. None of them particularly like each other. Bickering ensues. But matters are going okay ... for now. But difficulties soon arise.
I found it mildly strange that the drug smuggling occurs 45 minutes into the movie, with an hour so left to go. So that means that the rest of 'We're the Millers' is filled up by sitcom-like vignettes until the big climax comes (where the Ed Helms character & his henchmen catch up to David). During that last hour, we get bloodthirsty drug lords, a friendly camper couple who are interested in having sex with other married couples {weird}, & the obligatory 'family member' bonding scenes; because amid the gross-out jokes, sex jokes, prosthetic penises, & profanity ... you gotta have sweet, sentimental scenes such as the bond scenes. Blech.
'We're the Millers' is ultimately just another "mediocre Jennifer Aniston movie". Aniston has a modicum of charisma/talent. But she's always content to do THESE types of movies. And really, it makes me think less of her. Jason Sudeikis annoyed me with his smirky douche-schtick. Emma Roberts is a nothing, for me. Will Poulter is enjoyable in the 'son' role. And Kathryn Hahn/Nick Offerman bring some energy to the camper set piece. Ehh. At best, 'We're the Millers' is dumb fun; at worst, it's slightly offensive & forgettable. 6 months from now you won't be able to remember more than 2 set pieces or jokes, you'll just remember having seen it ("oh yeah, the movie where Jennifer Aniston is the stripper and the kid gets bitten by a spider on his balls!"). Too much of the script feels artificial or forced.
The premise for 'We're the Millers' is, shall we say, thin. David (Jason Sudeikis, ugh) is a small-time drug dealer (mostly marijuana) who ends up in a baaaaad situation when some thugs steal his stash & $$. Now, about $40,000 in debt to his supplier (Ed Helms, ugh) without any real way to pay. The brilliant solution (sarcasm reigns supreme here) is for David to do a drug-run: head over to Mexico, pick up a bit of high-grade weed, & bring it back across the border to the states. For all this trouble, David's debt will be paid off & he'll get $500,000. David agrees, reluctantly.
Now, how's this for a plot device (or else ther'd be no movie) ... vacationing families are routinely ignored at border crossings (apparently), so David decides to 'adopt' a wife & 2 kids for said trip. Joining him are a stripper, Rose (Jennifer Aniston); a homeless girl, Casey (Emma Roberts, Julia's somewhat irksome niece); & a boy with an absentee mom, Kenny (Will Poulter, of Son of Rambow, Narnia: Dawn Treader). Faking it as The Millers, they head to Mexico, obtain the drugs, then cross back into the states. None of them particularly like each other. Bickering ensues. But matters are going okay ... for now. But difficulties soon arise.
I found it mildly strange that the drug smuggling occurs 45 minutes into the movie, with an hour so left to go. So that means that the rest of 'We're the Millers' is filled up by sitcom-like vignettes until the big climax comes (where the Ed Helms character & his henchmen catch up to David). During that last hour, we get bloodthirsty drug lords, a friendly camper couple who are interested in having sex with other married couples {weird}, & the obligatory 'family member' bonding scenes; because amid the gross-out jokes, sex jokes, prosthetic penises, & profanity ... you gotta have sweet, sentimental scenes such as the bond scenes. Blech.
'We're the Millers' is ultimately just another "mediocre Jennifer Aniston movie". Aniston has a modicum of charisma/talent. But she's always content to do THESE types of movies. And really, it makes me think less of her. Jason Sudeikis annoyed me with his smirky douche-schtick. Emma Roberts is a nothing, for me. Will Poulter is enjoyable in the 'son' role. And Kathryn Hahn/Nick Offerman bring some energy to the camper set piece. Ehh. At best, 'We're the Millers' is dumb fun; at worst, it's slightly offensive & forgettable. 6 months from now you won't be able to remember more than 2 set pieces or jokes, you'll just remember having seen it ("oh yeah, the movie where Jennifer Aniston is the stripper and the kid gets bitten by a spider on his balls!"). Too much of the script feels artificial or forced.