Written by Rebecca Marie Taylor.
In Ron Marshall Thurber’s raunchy comedy, the laughs may be cheap, but they definitely keep ’em coming. While some of the plot twists are fairly predictable, the narrative moves along quickly and there isn’t a lull in the action. If asked what movies We’re the Millers is reminiscent of, the obvious choices would be Barry Sonnenfield’s RV and Todd Phillips’, The Hangover. Ed Helms even makes an appearance! Fortunately the cast and the comedic value were scores better than that of RV, however, seeing a “family” of four parading around in a motor-home definitely brings back some unfortunate memories.
Of course, problems are met in getting back across the border safely, and soon they find themselves being hunted down by an angry Mexican drug-lord. There are motor-home accidents, a hospital visit, a few 80’s and 90’s throwbacks, and even a sexy striptease courtesy of Ms. Aniston.
Amongst all the offensive language (there is plenty of it!), and occasional nudity, there is an underlying deeper message. While committing a federal crime together, the four misfits eventually come to bond and care for one another in a way they’ve all been secretly missing from their lives. Hell, the lowly pot dealer even ends up doing the right thing in the end (depending on your definition of ‘the right thing’!) There’s just enough feel-good moments in this film to make you almost forget how many times the F-bomb is dropped.
Emma Roberts does a decent job of playing the couldn’t-care-less teenage girl, but her best scenes are definitely those with Aniston. The two have a great chemistry that you can feel deep in your bones, and for a moment you forget they’re a fake family. It feels much more plausible that Rose could be Casey’s mother when they actually share the screen.
Sudeikis also does a great job at portraying the modern, stressed out father figure. When he drops an F-bomb, it feels completely warranted, and I truly worried that one of the veins in his neck may explode. His interactions with virginal Kenny are exactly as awkward as I remember my birds and the bees conversations being. Poulter is the epitome of a nerd, and truly rocks the eyebrows and rosy pink lips. His portrayal of Kenny had just the right amount of endearing dorkiness, and a strange kind of sex appeal, to keep the audience invested in the well being of his sex life.
THE REEL SCORE: 7/10
– R.M.T.
