Wanderlust (2012)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Mark H

  
  The script starts outs great, but it loses momentum. Instead of a fully formed storyline proceeding to a satisfying conclusion, we get one dubious skit after another, none of which are particularly funny. The humor grows childish and immature. Paul Rudd uncomfortably sitting a toilet… More
  The script starts outs great, but it loses momentum. Instead of a fully formed storyline proceeding to a satisfying conclusion, we get one dubious skit after another, none of which are particularly funny. The humor grows childish and immature. Paul Rudd uncomfortably sitting a toilet while people chat with him like he's in the living room is an example of a simple-minded sight gag, not wit. The narrative is directionless, without a point. There's a scene in which George, staring in a mirror, is trying to psych himself up for sex he doesn't want to have. He begins speaking in this bizarre hillbilly accent about how he wants to be with the woman in question. It's just Paul Rudd, freely ad-libbing for 5 minutes. The resulting soliloquy is one of the most pathetic and embarrassing moments I have witnessed an actor I respect do. Imagine Elmer Fudd talking about his penis and you'll get the idea. These are jokes aimed at children who just learned the mechanics of how men and women procreate. The film is two distinct halves, the initial part that seems focused and purposeful to an end and a subsequent one that is an aimless series of moronic skits. Two stars for the promising first half and no stars for the second.

• Reid V

  
  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… More
  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.

• Bathsheba M

  
  This was such a surprise! I thought it was going to be typical "guy date movie" but it was quite witty and surprisingly true to life. Paul Rudd psyching himself up for a romp with the Eva character is a tour de force. Jennifer Anister was great as the artsy wife who… More
  This was such a surprise! I thought it was going to be typical "guy date movie" but it was quite witty and surprisingly true to life. Paul Rudd psyching himself up for a romp with the Eva character is a tour de force. Jennifer Anister was great as the artsy wife who can't commit to anything for longer than it takes to fail. Even the weirdo brother with the tantrum tic and absolutely brilliant explanation of why he has to keep his affairs from his wife...he's weird enough to remind me of several people I've met.

• Tyler C

  
  It's a little inconsistent compared to his last feature "Role Models," but director David Wain delivers a solid r-rated raunchy comedy that mostly thrives off of the hilarious charms of Paul Rudd.

• Aaron N

  
  Wayne Davidson: My name's Wayne by the way. I'm a nudist. George: Oh yes, we noticed your penis earlier. I do like it when I laugh a lot during a comedy. The funny thing about this film is that I did laugh a lot during it, yet it is hard for me to say that I really… More
  Wayne Davidson: My name's Wayne by the way. I'm a nudist. George: Oh yes, we noticed your penis earlier. I do like it when I laugh a lot during a comedy. The funny thing about this film is that I did laugh a lot during it, yet it is hard for me to say that I really loved it. I liked it for sure, it has Paul Rudd being incredibly charming, smarmy, and just plain silly, along with a very talented supporting cast; all with moments to shine. The film is also just plain bizarre at times, fitting in having little moments that I can appreciate based on my own tastes. Still, even as a smile remained on my face, the structure of this film has its faults, not feeling like a seamless experience, as it reaches its inevitable plot beats. Were the premise to be strong enough to go somewhere more interesting, this film could have relied on more than just humorous moments from its cast, but as it stands, it does provide enough humorous moments from the cast, which is just fine. read the whole review at thecodeiszeek.com

• Joshua W

  
  Now is this the best film of the year?... not in a long shot. BUT I really enjoyed this film. I went to a free screening and was surprisingly well made. The editing was great and Paul Rudd is proving to be a true talent. A bit to many dongs for my taste but what did I expect from… More
  Now is this the best film of the year?... not in a long shot. BUT I really enjoyed this film. I went to a free screening and was surprisingly well made. The editing was great and Paul Rudd is proving to be a true talent. A bit to many dongs for my taste but what did I expect from a hippie film.

• Jeff B

  
  An oftentimes wonderful comedy that starts to lose its Lust-er after awhile, Wanderlust still ends up being a hippie dippy laugh-in for moviegoers. It's hard to find an original concept in comedy that hasn't been laughed to death but this flick manages to make Ha while the… More
  An oftentimes wonderful comedy that starts to lose its Lust-er after awhile, Wanderlust still ends up being a hippie dippy laugh-in for moviegoers. It's hard to find an original concept in comedy that hasn't been laughed to death but this flick manages to make Ha while the celluloid shines. Oh, the Easy Bake structure is so formulaic that it should've come in a Do-It-Yourself-Comedy Kit but the laughs are genuine, frequent, and - more often than not - side-splitting thanks to an ace communal effort by cast, script, and director. Also, despite clocking in at under 2 hours, the movie starts to feel a bit long by the time the predictable ending rolls around, but some great closing chuckles make up for lost time. In this R-rated comedy, an overstressed and overextended Manhattan couple (Aniston, Rudd) stumble upon an idyllic community of free thinking modern-day hippies (Justin Theroux, Malin Akerman, Alan Alda, et al). Forget choosing between Twilight?s Team Edward and Team Jacob. This reviewer is going with Team Apatow. From executive producing NBC?s 2000 dramedy Freaks and Geeks to writing/directing 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up to producing Superbad and Bridesmaids, blockbuster funnyman Judd Apatow has a true ear and eye for talent and laughs. Here, he?s shepherded this commune comedy to great success. Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd have great patter, but ? after 4 movies together (Wet Hot American Summer and Role Models among them) - Rudd and director David Wain have an even better chemistry. The supporting cast is also in fine form, especially the hilarious Theroux. Bottom line: Some kind of Wander-full.

• Burger S

  
  Reynolds Wrap.

• Jeffrey M

  
  The story hits on all the familiar beats and ends up at a very predictable place, but the humor is consistent and effective throughout. There's a number of individual scenes which are really pretty daring comically, and they work, separating it from other rom-coms featuring… More
  The story hits on all the familiar beats and ends up at a very predictable place, but the humor is consistent and effective throughout. There's a number of individual scenes which are really pretty daring comically, and they work, separating it from other rom-coms featuring Jennifer Aniston. The cast also helps elevate the material and keeps the story-light film always interesting, especially from Paul Rudd and Justin Theroux. Original it's not, but quite funny. 3.5/5 Stars

• Laura C

  
  Some great perverse humour. Love Paul Rudd and his many facial expressions that tell us so much, without a word.

• John C

  
  Funny but not stupid funny and wicked clever without being too snarky, Wanderlust blew away all the low expectations. Haven't laughed so much in a movie theater in quite awhile. Best thing Rudd and Aniston have done in a long time, if ever. Great writing by Ken Marino (brilliant… More
  Funny but not stupid funny and wicked clever without being too snarky, Wanderlust blew away all the low expectations. Haven't laughed so much in a movie theater in quite awhile. Best thing Rudd and Aniston have done in a long time, if ever. Great writing by Ken Marino (brilliant in Party Down) and the rest of the cast looked like they were having a hippie good time. I am laughing as I write this thinking of the mirror scene. Had a great time! (3-1-12)

• Jon O

  
  Aside from Aniston giving yet another uninspired performance, "Wanderlust" is a blast, full of great comedic timing and some memorable characters.

• Daniel P

  
  I laughed at least a dozen times. My cheeks actually hurt from the cringey/can't not look at it "mirror" scene (almost an evolution of the extended "slappin' the bass" gag from I Love You Man). It's a very silly, pretty predictable film but a more… More
  I laughed at least a dozen times. My cheeks actually hurt from the cringey/can't not look at it "mirror" scene (almost an evolution of the extended "slappin' the bass" gag from I Love You Man). It's a very silly, pretty predictable film but a more than decent comedy. Plus it has Lauren Ambrose!!! And I'd watch Paul Rudd in anything. Gush over.

• Christopher O

  
  One big disappointment, I don't think I hardly laughed was bored and contemplated leaving. Great concept, poorest of executions. Paul Rudd can't save this trainwreck although he tries valiantly. Aniston sleep walks through her role and some of the nudity was kind of stomach… More
  One big disappointment, I don't think I hardly laughed was bored and contemplated leaving. Great concept, poorest of executions. Paul Rudd can't save this trainwreck although he tries valiantly. Aniston sleep walks through her role and some of the nudity was kind of stomach churning. David Wain showed promise with Role Models but this was not very good.

• Christopher H

  
  Wanderlust fails to set itself apart from any similar comedies, but with Paul Rudd's unique brand of humor, the film finds a way to stay somewhat comical. Aniston works just fine in her role, but with the complete lack of plausibility in the other characters, a transparent plot,… More
  Wanderlust fails to set itself apart from any similar comedies, but with Paul Rudd's unique brand of humor, the film finds a way to stay somewhat comical. Aniston works just fine in her role, but with the complete lack of plausibility in the other characters, a transparent plot, and overly frustrating situations facing Rudd's character, this film remains average at best.

• Philip P

  
  I was admittedly worried when "Wanderlust" was pushed from last October to February. Though neither month is usually good stomping grounds for movies that studios expect to do well, February is decidedly worse. It is that time of the year when we are coming off all the high… More
  I was admittedly worried when "Wanderlust" was pushed from last October to February. Though neither month is usually good stomping grounds for movies that studios expect to do well, February is decidedly worse. It is that time of the year when we are coming off all the high prestige projects that are recieving Oscar nominations and all the big budget effects-driven summer films. That time of year when studios dump movies on unsuspecting crowds that might venture out to something they may not have seen were it released at any other point in the year. Fortunately, "Wanderlust" is as funny and ridiculous as I could have hoped for. Director David Wain has a history of not only collaborating with co-writer Ken Marino but also star Paul Rudd. The three have collaborated on "Wet Hot American Summer" and 2008's "Role Models" as well as "The Ten". While they seem to have really found their groove with "Role Models" they continue to grow in the right direction with "Wanderlust". While this may not be as consistently funny as "Role Models" was it certainly has the amount of charm and despite hitting familiar beats story-wise it also has the guts to go a little gonzo and stretch for the slightly weird. This might appeal only to certain movie-goers tastes but it allows itself this quality by sporting such a widely-liked cast that stand by the out-there material while delivering some seriously good laughs along the way. "Wanderlust" may be all I needed it to be but I can understand where some will not be as pleased with it, but even they have to admit that for this time of year "Wanderlust" is giving us a break from the other releases we might have settled for. The story here is rather straightforward and like "Role Models' doesn't really matter all that much because the actors involved create characters (or stick with their personas) that elevate not really the material but simply make us more invested in them and convince us they are worth hanging out with for an hour and a half. Rudd and Jennifer Aniston are George and Linda, two New York Manhattanites who love their city life, well kinda. George has an office job that he hates but does well in supporting Linda who hasn't yet found her niche. When we meet them they have just purchased a "micro-loft" which is realtor speak for studio apartment. Linda is trying to pitch a documentary about penguins with cancer to HBO in her latest effort to find a career when George loses his job and now broke and having to sell their new place they have no choice but to travel down to Atlanta where George's brother Rick (a perfectly macho/idiotic/snarky Ken Marino) has a job for him at his porter potty business. Along their way George and Linda stumble upon a hippie commune posing as a bed and breakfast where they have a night of care-free fun that hasn't seemed to be a part of their life for a long time. As it is called, Elysium is a place of free love, pot smoking, and vegans. "Wanderlust" has such a great supporting cast populating the members of this little tribe we understand why George and Linda are so taken by them. Frequent Wain and Rudd collaborator Joe Lo Truglio as Wayne the nudist wine maker, Malin Akerman (The Heartbreak Kid) is Eva who wants to experiment the free love philosophy with George, Kathryn Hahn as Karen (who always seems to be playing the crazy lady whether it be alongside Rudd in "Our Idiot Brother" or alongside Rudd in "How Do You Know" and let's not forget "Step Brothers", "The Goods" etc...) and Justin Theroux as headmaster Seth who steals every scene he decides to show up in. Even Alan Alda as Elysium patriarch Carvin gets a few solid laughs and seems to be having a great time. It is in this humbled and awkward group of people that George and Linda find a kind of solace from the busy world of, as Seth would put it, "web of beepers and Zenith televisions and Walkmens and discmens and floppy discs and zip drives, laser discs, answering machines and Nintendo Power Glove..." and where director Wain has tapped into a culture with a bizarre sense of humor that is a perfect platform for Rudd and the rest of his cast to lampoon. As Seth, Theroux gets his first real acting break with a role he can really bring something to after being the behind the scenes go-to-man for years. Every line the guy spits out is so full of ridiculous, made-up philosophy it all feels like great improv and on a movie like this you can't ask for much more. He is complimented nicely by the earnest Rudd who is so lovable and has an essence of being that every guy, that family man and to see him go all the way for it and sacrifice himself for a joke is not just endearing but it's hilarious. Every time. Wain knows when to let Rudd shine too, despite the obvious emotional trips his character is taking we watch as George knows what he should do and instead goes completely the wrong direction until his late in the game epiphany that rolls out the expected conclusion. As said earlier though the story stays within a safe structure but it is safe to say the content does not. What made "Wanderlust" so appealing was the idea of being what in essence the movies are about: escaping reality. And as Linda, Aniston continues her winning streak and lets her inhibitions fly free. She is hilarious in small moments and completely convincing in her turn. She is a vet at playing opposite comedic leading men yet this time she is given room to spread her own wings and she nails it. While "Wanderlust" is certainly not going to be for everyone, for those that love Paul Rudd (how couldn't you?) it is a good time and there are plenty of laughs to be had. Everyone on screen seems to be having such a good time and none of them taking themselves seriously. It is an engaging film that offers up a trip none of us would likely mind taking given the grind of the work week and stress of bills. We are given a buffet of engaging characters and are treated to 98-minutes of consistently funny gags and chuckles. It certainly won't go down as Wain and Rudd's greatest collaboration but it is a noteworthy addition to their already stellar collection. Whether they are sending up cynics and helpful organizations, summer camps or hippies there is a quality about their films that give them a "we're just messin with ya..." vibe that never makes it feel like it would actually offend anyone, rather they would just laugh along at the truth the movie is hitting on and therefor truly bringing the funny. In a cinematic world of comedies that are either big hits or big misses it is nice to have a laid back romp that can offer a getaway and a fun time. Plus if you're not into that whole scene there is always the fall back reason to see this movie which is full frontal nudity by senior citizens. Suck on that for a while and tell me you don't love the idea of "Wanderlust".

• m h

  
  The movie had plenty of laughs. I sometimes think the humor was a little excessive. I was fine with like the first 30 sexual themed jokes...but it ended up being a bit much. I personally didn't care when Paul Rudd's character George was psyching himself up in the mirror by… More
  The movie had plenty of laughs. I sometimes think the humor was a little excessive. I was fine with like the first 30 sexual themed jokes...but it ended up being a bit much. I personally didn't care when Paul Rudd's character George was psyching himself up in the mirror by saying things like "dick" in really weird voices. I also didn't care for the brother "Rick" played by Ken Marino. His character wasn't funny either. The film had a great hilarious beginning and a great middle...didn't like the ending. A little too silly and cliched for my liking. Paul Rudd was understandingly hilarious. He was my favourite character and actor out of the film. Thought he did great. Justin Theroux was also really funny in this. Except the end....but otherwise loved him throughout. Jennifer Aniston was also really good, but I wasn't that amazed by her. The rest of the cast was funny as well. I did enjoy myself when watching the film. As I said, there was lots of laughs. I don't think this film is necessarily for everyone. It is an Apatow production, if that gives you an idea of the kind of comedy you might you see.

• Jason R

  
  David Wain reunites with his Wet Hot American Summer and Role Models star, Paul Rudd. In a somewhat off-kilter, yet entirely hilarious film. About a married couple and the turmoil that enters into their lives, after they accidentally stumble upon an old Hippie Commune, full of rich… More
  David Wain reunites with his Wet Hot American Summer and Role Models star, Paul Rudd. In a somewhat off-kilter, yet entirely hilarious film. About a married couple and the turmoil that enters into their lives, after they accidentally stumble upon an old Hippie Commune, full of rich and extremely strange characters. I love Wain's style of comedy, while it is somewhat hit-and-miss. As a whole picture, WANDERLUST is very well written and acted. Something a bit out-of-the-norm for this time of year, and a welcome change from the usual dull and uninspiring drivel, that are out in theaters right now.

Read all 18 featured audience ratings