This raunchy comedy won’t have you rolling down the aisles in a laughing fit, but We’re the Millers does hit the occasional comedic high point.
Former Saturday Night Live alum Jason Sudeikis plays aging small-time Denver drug dealer Dave Clark, who happens to be the on hook to a drug kingpin (Ed Helms) after his stash and cash are stolen by some young punks. To pay back his debt, Clark must smuggle a “smidge” of marijuana across the border from Mexico. He devises the idea to parade as a wholesome unsuspecting family—because who would mistake an all-Ameican family for drug smugglers—with the help of local stripper, Rose (Aniston), the geeky kid next door, Kenny (Will Poulter) and a couch-hopping troubled teen, Casey (Emma Roberts).
What happens shortly after the misfit “family” members hop in their RV and take off on their journey should come as a surprise to no one. The foursome’s time together breeds a level of familiarity, which predictably leads to genuine care and concern for one another. This is where We’re the Millers may earn some appreciation from viewers.
All of the film’s stars do an apt job in their roles. Sudeikis is edgy and as sarcastic as ever. Young British actor Poulter adds a naïve charm to the film and provides a couple of the film’s most memorable moments (when a poisonous tarantula gets inside his pants, the results and his reaction is priceless). Emma Roberts held her own, though at times I felt as if she didn’t really add anything to some of the scenes she was in.
Aniston’s performance had a very endearing quality to it, especially in the scenes where her maternal instincts are on display. But what I’m sure most people are curious about is her prowess as a stripper. First off, she is in fantastic shape! It’s obvious she works very hard to keep her body in tip-top shape. Her strip tease scene was done tastefully, and was even injected with a bit of humor to continue with the film’s overall comedic tone. I will admit that at one point during her dance I thought to myself: “It’s weird watching Rachel perform a strip tease.”
This exaggerated comedy does suffer a bit from an uneven script, but not enough to mar an otherwise enjoyable experience filled at times with hilarity, as well as humanity.
-- Derrick Mitcham
Former Saturday Night Live alum Jason Sudeikis plays aging small-time Denver drug dealer Dave Clark, who happens to be the on hook to a drug kingpin (Ed Helms) after his stash and cash are stolen by some young punks. To pay back his debt, Clark must smuggle a “smidge” of marijuana across the border from Mexico. He devises the idea to parade as a wholesome unsuspecting family—because who would mistake an all-Ameican family for drug smugglers—with the help of local stripper, Rose (Aniston), the geeky kid next door, Kenny (Will Poulter) and a couch-hopping troubled teen, Casey (Emma Roberts).
What happens shortly after the misfit “family” members hop in their RV and take off on their journey should come as a surprise to no one. The foursome’s time together breeds a level of familiarity, which predictably leads to genuine care and concern for one another. This is where We’re the Millers may earn some appreciation from viewers.
All of the film’s stars do an apt job in their roles. Sudeikis is edgy and as sarcastic as ever. Young British actor Poulter adds a naïve charm to the film and provides a couple of the film’s most memorable moments (when a poisonous tarantula gets inside his pants, the results and his reaction is priceless). Emma Roberts held her own, though at times I felt as if she didn’t really add anything to some of the scenes she was in.
Aniston’s performance had a very endearing quality to it, especially in the scenes where her maternal instincts are on display. But what I’m sure most people are curious about is her prowess as a stripper. First off, she is in fantastic shape! It’s obvious she works very hard to keep her body in tip-top shape. Her strip tease scene was done tastefully, and was even injected with a bit of humor to continue with the film’s overall comedic tone. I will admit that at one point during her dance I thought to myself: “It’s weird watching Rachel perform a strip tease.”
This exaggerated comedy does suffer a bit from an uneven script, but not enough to mar an otherwise enjoyable experience filled at times with hilarity, as well as humanity.
-- Derrick Mitcham
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