Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews

We’re The Millers – 2013

Director Rawson Marshall Thurber
Starring Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis, Will Poulter, Emma Roberts, Ed Helms, Nick Offerman, Kathryn Hahn, Ed Helms, Luis Guzman, Molly Quinn
Screenplay Bob Fisher, Steve Faber, Sean Anders, John Morris

The iron of having a weed dealer go down to Mexico to pick up “…enough weed to kill Willie…Nelson…” and haul it back to Colorado (of all places) is palpable enough. Just trying to imagine Emma Roberts and especially Jennifer Aniston as anything other than pampered Hollywood princesses is too tough to sell, no matter how many times they use the “F’ word.  In fact, they seem even more pampered with every curse.  This says nothing about how unconvincing Sudeikis is as a drug dealer, what with his “cool Jim” hair from American Pie.  I prefer “serious Jim,” myself.

So we take four fish out of their lives as a stripper, drug dealer, runaway and a doof, give them the mission to go to Mexico in a Winnebago as a “family,” pick up a huge load of grass, then amble on back  to Colorado with their ill-gotten gains.

What’s the over / under on the 4 of them becoming closer and doing some hugging and learning along the way?  Or perhaps, some of the bad guys will be menacing looking but will allow the protagonists to escape through wacky hi-jinks?  What do you think will happen on the trip back?  Maybe a breakdown and close quarters with someone who could bust them if they don’t carry on the charade?  I wonder if there will be some sort of artificial deadline…

Am I being too harsh?  Should I allow more grace for a movie that thinks shocking people can replace genuine laughs?  The practice of pushing the envelope for comedy is not new.  It’s just not often done well.  This is another one in the loss column.

(* out of *****)