Too many big comedies with trailers shown for months before the movie’s release reveal too many, if not all, of the truly laugh-out-loud moments. And yet sometimes, something looks funny enough—with enough talent—that I’m willing to take that risk. My gamble paid off as, thankfully, We’re the Millers does not fall into that camp. Although *many* of the funny moments did fall flat for me, my having seen them in previews over the summer, there were plenty more that garnered, I believe, at least three snorts amongst a lot of laughter.
The premise is no secret: four unlikely characters pretend to be a family vacationing in an RV in order to smuggle drugs from Mexico. The characters are unlikely, but they are a hoot to watch perform, develop, and grow. As one might suspect, illogical hilarity ensues, and nothing is what it seems. The plot spins one silly way then another as the Miller family attempts to evade detection, arrest, and death. Along the way, the laughter grows (as does the heart).
Aniston is essentially the same character in most of her comedies (the only time that comes to mind when I saw her stretch as an actress was in Friends With Money—-a fantastic film (of course, it also was not a comedy)). But even if too familiar, she’s always charming as ever. (The best scenes with her in this film are in the outtakes in the end, one in the “Oscar pose” (my love of all movies Oscar-worthy left me literally slapping my knee at that one!) and the other—well, I cracked up at the prank the rest of the cast played on her, causing her to leave character but genuinely laugh at herself, which was fabulously refreshing.)
Sudeikis is ready to graduate from SNL, it seems, in his lead role here. While not fabulous, he’s funny *enough.* And he’s genuine enough. I look forward to seeing him stretch his acting wings a bit more, though, in upcoming dramatic parts.
Who steals the show? It has to be Will Poulter, as Kenny. He repeatedly left me laughing. This kid knows how to deliver humor.
No, this is not an Oscar-esque film. It’s not incredibly deep. It doesn’t make a commentary on society, politics, or justice. But if you know what you’re getting into—and are willing to accept that—it’s fun. Yes, as an RCRC—a raun-com-rom-com (raunchily comedic romantic comedy (did I just coin a phrase? I might have. You saw it here first, folks!)), it has its predictability. But the humor and the lengths gone to for laughs in the movie, well, this chickie did not at all predict many of those.
Funny stuff, people. Funny stuff.
—->You know what I’m sayin’?