Wanderlust (2012)

Being a fan of David Wain and co., I really wanted to love this film. I've been following their career since Wet Hot American Summer, and was really excited to see their follow-up to the very funny Rolemodels. Enter George and Linda, a young couple whom after a spat of financial problems, end up getting a taste of the bucolic at Elysium commune. Part of a recent trend of films that lovingly plays with the idea of ditching the hustle & bustle of daily life, Wanderlust shows our stars being lured into the idea of a lifestyle free from grueling work schedules, lattes, I-Phones, & of course...Nintendo power gloves. In essence, they are surrogates for a movie going audience still reeling from a financial meltdown, throwing caution to the wind and emancipating themselves from being a slave to the grind. George & Linda, played well by the always charming Paul Rudd & the seldom charming Jennifer Anniston, have a surprising amount of chemistry and one cannot help but be empathetic toward their interesting, albeit comical, plight. However, while Wain and co-writer Ken Marino serve up some hearty laughs along the way, one can not help but wish they worked out the kinks in the story a bit more. While narratively I understand needing things to get to a breaking point in order for the story to move into it's final act, the conflict felt awkwardly contrived and distanced the audience from an otherwise understandable and lovable couple. Also, while I love tight editing, this film is so streamlined that the audience is rushed at light-speed through gag after gag. By the time the credits rolled, I found myself saying, "I know I laughed, but what happened?"It isn't all bad. Wain & Marino dish up loads of their signature witty & irreverent humor. On top of this there are some great cameos by other veterans of The State & Alan Alda is absolutely hysterical. Whether he is acting or actually living in some sort of senile reverie, I want nothing more than to grab a beer with that man. All in all, a step back for one of my favorite comedy directors working today, but not an entire waste of celluloid.