We're The Millers

http://werethemillers.warnerbros.com/#home

The last Jennifer Aniston film I saw at the cinema was Horrible Bosses. Which also starred Jason Sudeikis, who is in this film. And as it turned out, it wasn't half bad. I heard similar things about this film and decided to give it a shot.

We're The Millers tells the story of how David (Sudeikis), a guy who has done nothing with his life except sell weed since High School, ends up owing money to big time drug lord Brad Gurdlinger (Ed Helms). Gurdlinger gives David one last chance to pay him back by hiring him to get a 'smidge' of marijuana over the border from Mexico to the US. David decides that the only way he is going to pull this off is if he hires some people to pretend to be his 'family', and that way they can convince officials they are just on a family vacation. He hires a stripper, Rose (Aniston), who lives in his building to be his wife, a local homeless girl, Casey (Roberts), to be his daughter and his neighbour, Kenny (Poulter), who's been abandoned by his mother, to be his son. They pick up an RV and have the next three days to become the perfect all American family.

Much like Horrible Bosses, this film is not half bad. It has quite a few laugh out loud scenes, at least one gross out scene which is actually nowhere near as bad as most gross out scenes in movies such as this, and it has it's heartwarming ending. Here is where I have a problem.

There is nothing new about We're The Millers but it's a decent comedy none-the-less. The only downside is that during the heartwarming ending, our hero (or as close to a hero as Sudeikis' character gets) has a change of heart so miraculous, it would surely make even the man upstairs do a double take. His speech at the end was not only cheesy, but also completely unbelievable given what we know about his character. It's a shame too as I really enjoyed the movie, cliches and all, up to that point.

If you can forgive a selfish character growing a conscience 15 minutes before the credits roll you should see We're The Millers. If not, maybe give it a miss. 7 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 4th September 2013

UK Release Date - 23rd August 2013

Cast Overview:

Rose O'Reilly ~ Jennifer Aniston

David Clark ~ Jason Sudeikis

Casey Mathis ~ Emma Roberts

Kenny Rossmore ~ Will Poulter

Brad Gurdlinger ~ Ed Helms

Don Fitzgerald ~ Nick Offerman

Edie Fitzgerald ~ Kathryn Hahn

Melissa Fitzgerald ~ Molly Quinn

Director ~ Rawson Marshall Thurber

Writer(s) ~ Bob Fisher (Screenplay and Story), Steve Faber (Screenplay and Story), Sean Anders (Screenplay) and John Morris (Screenplay)

Horrible Bosses

http://horriblebossesmovie.warnerbros.com

The second movie of my birthday movie double bill was Horrible Bosses. This was mostly due to the lack of anything else being out. Some of my friends are not into Harry Potter (shocking I know) and most have already seen Transformers 3. So aside from Cars 2, which I'd already seen earlier in the day, that left Horrible Bosses.

As well as having a horrible title, Horrible Bosses also has, as you might have guessed, three horrible bosses, one for each of the main characters. Nick (Jason Bateman) has to put up with Dave (Kevin Spacey) and his constant attempts to make Nick look bad. Dave basically undermines Nick at every available opportunity, as well as robbing him of a promotion he's been working tirelessly for. Dale (Charlie Day) has a female boss, Julia (Jennifer Aniston), who is sexually harassing him. And finally Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) has a boss he loves, Jack (Donald Sutherland), who dies and leaves his coke addicted son Bobby (Colin Farrell) in charge. They seek advice on how to pull off the perfect murders of their bosses. But will everything go to plan?

I think it was a massive coup that this film managed to get Kevin Spacey on board, it gives the movie some much needed credibility and is especially impressive given that Mr Spacey tends to be more of a behind the scenes and theatre man at the moment. The downside to having Kevin Spacey is that he seems to have only agreed to make the movie because it allowed him to re-play his character from Swimming With Sharks. Which is a great movie by the way, if you haven't seen it. But not so good for Horrible Bosses.

The other not-so-good thing about Horrible Bosses is the timing of it's release. I can't help but think that it has been released at a horrible time. It's summer, where if you're not a blockbuster, you're only options are to be an interesting indie pic/film based on true events or a comedy that happens to be a huge sleeper hit. Well with names like Spacey, Farrell and Aniston, you're not an indie. And let's face it, Bridesmaids has been the comedy hit of the summer and I don't think this is going to knock the tiara off it's head.

So I feel bad, because Horrible Bosses is not that bad a film (especially given that it's a Jennifer Aniston movie). If it was released at any other time I feel it would have a decent chance as it's quite funny, it's got good actors in it and it's got a nice not-too-complicated plot. But this isn't any other time, so Horrible Bosses is probably going to get a horrible opening weekend. Plus it's gone up against Pixar, Harry Potter and Transformers. Massive fail.

However, if you've not got kids or have seen the other three then give Horrible Bosses a go. It won't dazzle you but it might give you the occasional giggle. 6.5 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 26th July 2011

UK Release Date - 22nd July 2011

Cast Overview:

Jason Bateman ~ Nick Hendricks

Jason Sudeikis ~ Kurt Buckman

Charlie Day ~ Dale Arbus

Kevin Spacey ~ Dave Harken

Jennifer Aniston ~ Dr Julia Harris D.D.S.

Colin Farrell ~ Bobby Pelitt

Donald Sutherland ~ Jack Pelitt

Jamie Foxx ~ Dean 'MF' Jones

Lindsay Sloane ~ Stacy

Director ~ Seth Gordon

Writer(s) ~ Michael Markowitz (Screenplay and Story), John Francis Daley (Screenplay) and Jonathan Goldstein (Screenplay)