WANDERLUST
Directed by: David Wain
Written by: David Wain, Ken Marino
Starring: Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux, Malin Akerman
David Wain is a silly, silly dude. If you watch any of his early work on THE STATE, you’ll immediately get an idea of what he finds funny. His later work, including the comedy classic WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER, only reinforce the fact that Wain likes things bizarre and zany. His tendency to make things absurd while remaining deadpan is one of the many aspects I love about him and his co-horts.
WANDERLUST, Wain’s first film since the surprising hit ROLE MODELS, is at its best when it’s being silly. When it throws out typical script conventions and lets the actors cut loose, it soars. When it sticks to formula, it drags.
The plot follows a New York couple, George and Linda (Rudd and Aniston) who in a matters of hours lose their cramped but expensive loft and jobs. Fleeing New York for the boring suburbs of Atlanta, George and Linda stumble upon Elysium, an “intentional community” a.k.a commune. There they fall in love with the hippie, new-age spirituality of its residents. After deciding big city life isn’t for them, the two settle down at Elysium and try to adjust and embrace their new way of life.
WANDERLUST essentially has only one joke but it milks it for all its worth. Wain and co-writer Ken Marino repeatedly show us how kooky Elysium is, from the wine-making nudist (Joe Lo Truglio, who is as funny as always) to the ditzy pregnant couple (Lauren Ambrose and Jordan Peele) to the commune’s de-facto leader, Seth (the superb Justin Theroux) and his rambling spiritual babble. That being said, the joke almost always delivers. The cast consists of people who are able to ad-lib and bring their weird characters to life with gusto. Kerri Kenney-Silver, Kathryn Hahn, Alan Alda and Marino himself are some of the few who fill their roles to the top. I could watch these guys make up stuff for hours.
But this is a mainstream comedy with a typical three-act structure and, unfortunately, that’s where WANDERLUST runs into trouble. This formula means Wain and Marino’s fun, carefree style sometimes gets constrained by serving the story. The final third of the movie feels similar to a million other romantic comedies. Sadly, it’s just not as fun to watch as the inspired, creative bursts seen earlier. As well, Wain and Marino have overloaded their script with unnecessary bulk. There’s a sub-plot about the commune being demolished by greedy casino owners that feels tacked on. Additionally, a main character’s betrayal of the clan is injected simply to create a villain for the film’s conclusion. It slows the movie down and makes it feel cluttered.
When you look back on WANDERLUST, you’re going to remember the few organic comedic moments, like Paul Rudd psyching himself up in the bathroom mirror (a truly hilarious sequence) or Jennifer Aniston tripping on drugs. You’ll laugh about the odd characters and their bizarre conversations and traits. However, you won’t be talking about the scenes that tied it all altogether. WANDERLUST is like an album with several fantastic songs and a few filler tracks. It’s worth a spin, even if you wish you could occasionally press skip.
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