The recent trend with R-rated comedies is to take them in a dark, unexpected and unfitting direction. Think of how much darker each of the Hangover sequels was compared to the previous installments. With the third and (hopefully) final Hangover movie released this year, it would be nice if upcoming R-rated comedies could follow the lead of We’re the Millers and put that trend to rest. As you can tell by the trailers, the plot of We’re the Millers isn’t exactly original, but that fault is completely neutralized by nearly non-stop well-earned laughs.
Horrible Bosses stars Jason Sudekis and Jennifer Aniston have re-teamed for We’re the Millers. Sudekis plays a Denver pot-dealer who gets himself into a pickle when his stash and cash are stolen from his apartment. To set things straight with his supplier (Ed Helms), Sudekis must fly to Mexico and bring back a huge shipment of marijuana. Worried about how to clear border patrol, he comes up with the bright idea to hire a trio of misfits to act as his wife and kids in order to give the appearance of an ignorant and innocent family returning to the U.S. after a family vacation.
For the family’s mother, Sudekis brings on a down-and-out stripper (Aniston). For the son, an abandoned dimwitted teenager (Will Poulter). And for the daughter, a homeless teen with attitude (Emma Roberts). Together, this group makes up one of the funniest misfit “families” since the Griswolds. True to that statement, Sudekis’ character isn’t all that far off from being a vulgar Clark Griswold. Their version of Vacation is filled with weed, Mexican badasses, drug dealers, border patrol, D.E.A. and weirdos galore. Co-stars include Nick Offerman, Kathryn Hahn, Luis Guzmán, Thomas Lennon and Ken Marino.
We’re the Millers isn’t the best comedy of the year (This is the End holds that title … for now), but it’s definitely a worthy comedy for anyone who can handle crude comedies. The non-stop laughter completely makes up for the predictable and familiar screenplay and, despite playing awful people, the leading foursome is a very entertaining batch.
Photo credit: Warner Bros.
