Wanderlust

Starring Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd, Justin Theroux, Malin Akerman, Ken Marino and Mikaela Watkins. Directed by David Wain. 98 minutes. 14A

Fourteen years ago, Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston awkwardly tried to play friends with weird, sexually obtuse benefits in the mainly mediocre rom com, The Object of Affection. Then they just played good friends (or, I suppose friends-in-law) on Friends. In Wanderlust, they play an amalgamation of the two, pretending to be both best friends and husband and wife.

America's swingy-haired sweetheart and the Apatow era's most earnest everyman headline David Wain's latest quirky comedy concoction, a light-hearted and occasionally hilarious commentary on finding yourself despite the deep, dark hole that is the recession. The duo play Linda and George, New Yorkers who have to leave their newly purchased studio apartment behind when they both lose their jobs. On their way to move in with his brother (Ken Marino, Party Down) and perpetually prescription-stoned wife (Mikaela Watkins, SNL), the pair happen upon a free lovey dovey community dubbed Elysium, and fall for its welcoming, toke-sharing inhabitants.

With that effortlessly wavy hair and revolving door way with men, it's not hard to believe that Aniston might become a closeted hippie. Especially if that hippie was a part of semi-cult led by her current boyfriend (Justin Theroux, stealthily walking the fine line between goofy and loosey goosey sexy in a Russell Brand wig). The role is no stretch for her, and as a result, she doesn't particularly shine. The exception is her solo scenes with Rudd. Their long-developing relationship is finally paying off ... in spot-on, erratic road trip montages.

Rudd will make you spit out your popcorn at certain moments, especially when he struggles to come up with filthy come-ons in front of Elysium's shared bathroom mirror. His enunciation is strained and stunted, and thus, very true to his fish-out-of-clean-water character. The uncomfortable voice he comes up with must be a first cousin of the one he used to "slap da bass" in I Love You, Man.

This gag, clearly scripted by Rudd on the fly, is highly reminiscent of the scene in Wain's underappreciated, star-studded opus, Wet Hot American Summer, in which Janeane Garafalo reads a list of names she clearly just made up. In fact, much of the movie plays seems to pay homage to that summer camp-set film, or at least its actors. With Marino and Rudd in major roles and Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter and Joe La Truglio popping up for short lewd cameos, it's the makeshift reunion event you haven't been waiting for (unless you're awesomely informed).  It's too bad Wain forgot to invite Wet Hot American Summer's fearless wit to the party.

Many of Wanderlust's jokes are a little too safe (Linda has a high-flying hallucination), making the purposefully in-your-face ones (La Truglio's penis gets a lot of play) seem out of place. But that's not to say you won't giggle profusely. As the name suggests, Wanderlust is a half-decent little escape flick for those whose sense of humour is slightly off the oft-beaten path. B

The Fille Files (February 19 - 25)

 Each week, the Filles bring you some of our favourite films finds of the week—news, reviews, features, interviews, tweets, new releases, etc.—just in case you missed them.

REEL GREAT READS (OSCARS EDITION!)

 Photo: Featureflash/Shutterstock.com

• Oscar voters overwhelmingly white, male (Los Angeles Times) - This new report proves what we've thought we've known for years: that the Academy is an old boy's club and thus, possibly biased in its ultimate selections.
• The Best Picture nominees as infographics (Vulture) - A visual treat for both Oscar lovers and haters, featuring a shit pie graph (The Help) and a line graph documenting the ups and downs of George Clooney's two-faced ("Cool Dad" vs. "Sex Symbol") career.
• The five ways the Oscars have ruined my life (Hello Giggles) - Erin Long speaks to her love/hate relationship with the Oscars with a brutal honesty (themed foods DO take over your life) we can totally, unashamedly relate to.
• Is the Academy using the Oscars to promote their own creditability? (EW) - In this video, EW critics Owen Gleiberman and Lisa Schwarzbaum ask if this year's Oscar winners should represent quality (The Artist! Jean DuJardin!), popularity (George Clooney! The Help!) or both (Brad Pitt!).
• Great books, awful movies: A brief history (The Globe and Mail) - In honour of all the books-turned-movies nominated for best picture, The Globe looks at some of the literary adaptations of the past that ruined the originals (though we can't say we always agree, ahem, Troy).
• ALSO: Maude Apatow's interview with Paul Rudd - Judd Apatow's daughter interviews the adorable everyman, asking him pertinent questions like "What was your barmitzvah like?"

Don't You Forget About: Role Models

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.

ROLE MODELS


WHAT it's about: When energy drink salesmen Danny (Paul Rudd) and Wheeler (Seann William Scott) interrupt the towing of their company car, driving it into a school statue, they're sent to do community work with Sturdy Wings, a Big Brothers Big Sisters type program. When Wheeler gets paired with Ronnie (Bobb'e J. Thompson) a.k.a. Chris Rock Jr. and Danny with live action role-player Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, better known as McLovin), things get hilarious.


WHO'S in it: Upcoming star of Wanderlust Paul Rudd and Goon's Seann William Scott, alongside Thompson, Mintz-Plasse, Elizabeth Banks, pre-Glee Jane Lynch and pre-Community Ken Jeong. Plus, for MADtv fans, Nicole Randall Johnson and Keegan-Michael Key!


WHEN IT CAME OUT: 2008


HOW come you haven't heard of (or just seen) it: Chances are, you have heard of it, but I wouldn't be surprised if you'd forgotten about it. Some critics knocked it as childish and stupid, never fully living up to its potential. Possibly worst of all, an "Apatow imitation." Ouch. Personally, I find it way undervalued, even by those who thought it was "good."


WHY you need to watch it--immediately!

• By far, the strongest part of this movie is the chemistry of the cast. They completely riff off each other and come across as completely believable, like they really do hang out together off-screen, despite Rudd's and Thompson's age gap of 27 years.
• Although they work amazingly as a team, each actor is hilarious on his own: Thompson's one-liners, Scott's idiocy, Rudd's sarcasm and Mintz-Plasse's, well, dorkiness. Perfect blend, right?
• As I mentioned before, MADtv cast cameos! Although this was pre to MADtv's cancellation, I can't help but root for their always small appearances.
• It's charming. No really, it works itself out in a somewhat-cliché but kind of sweet way.
• It's a great follow-up for Mintz-Plasse after Superbad, giving him a shove into the film world and showing us that he's got a lot more promise.
• Paul Rudd is funny! I know I already mentioned the cast, but this deserves its own point. He's had a pretty bad run recently (see: Dinner for Schmucks, How Do You Know, Our Idiot Brother), but it's nice to be reminded of a better time in his career. And with Role Models writer-director David Wain and writer Ken Marino bringing us Wanderlust soon, here's hoping Rudd is back on track.