Ghostbusters Double Feature Gift Set (Ghostbusters/ Ghostbusters 2 and Commemorative Book)

7 Comments

1. Jason

   October 10, 2010 at 4:36 pm

   Review by Jason for Couples Retreat
   Rating:
   Directed by Peter Billingsley (Ralphie, Christmas Story), Couples Retreat is essentially a reason for Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau to take a vacation to a tropical paradise. Along the way they decided to make a movie. Conveniently enough, the movie is about friends and their spouses taking a vacation.

   When PowerPoint Ranger Jason (Jason Bateman) and his wife Ronnie (Malin Akerman) start to have problems in their relationship – most likely brought on by their OCD and obsession with slideshows – they drag fellow couples Dave (Vince Vaughn) and Cynthia (Kristen Bell), Joey (Jon Favreau) and Lucy (Kristin Davis), & Shane (Faizon Love) and his new fling to Eden, a vacation hot-spot for couples-building that looks like a screen saver, with promises of jet-skiing and beachside alcoholic drinks. Unfortunately for them, they are going to Eden West, a place for married couples to get new-age counseling with team-building, psychiatry, trust exercises and oddball philosophy involving early awakenings and shark adventures. What it’s lacking, however, is fun; it’s lacking Eden East, the singles side of the island. As contrived and predictable as this is, you already know where this is going.

   Missing the “are you for scuba”-vibe from Along Came Polly, I spent the majority of the movie, and especially the trailer highlight shark scene – one claimed by many as the most comical – wishing for a repeat of the shark scene from The Beach.

   Despite the cast’s obvious chemistry and solid acting, there was just too much kvetching about relationship quandaries to hold throughout the movie, and very little comedy for the mortar. As I’ve commented on another’s review, the reason the rom-coms lose steam in the last act is the requirement to learn heart warming lessons. Made all the more unbelievable because the lessons are learned at a party on Eden East, a place and event just as vacuous as the movie itself. I guess my appreciation for the cast set me up for failure, and potential was not met.

   Jason Elin

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2. Medusa

   October 10, 2010 at 3:44 pm

   Review by Medusa for Couples Retreat
   Rating:
   You can glimpse the plot of the movie from the title, it is exactly what it says, only completely lame with over-the-hill actors getting richer while wasting our money! I wonder why some people think empty acting can be funny. What happened to smart jokes, even silly jokes that will leave you breathless? Having Vince Vaughn in this movie is a total insult to him; another example how having funny people in a stupid movie doesn’t make it funnier!

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3. Loyd E. Eskildson

   October 10, 2010 at 2:58 pm

   Review by Loyd E. Eskildson for Couples Retreat
   Rating:
   Couples Retreat could have been much funnier, but turns out to be a wannabe of the old Fantasy Island TV Series. One of the lines the welcomes spouts when the couples arrive at “Eden West” -was we need no money here – only smiles (gag). There were no smiles nor laughs during the movie, just a wild hope throughout that something crazy, zany would happen – It didn’t. The humor was lost.

   Vince Vaughn was the strongest character, and yet he could not pull humor out of this bland comedy. The cast was topnotch – Malin Akerman, Kristin Davis, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Kristen Bell and Faizon Love but the script did no one justice. Eden is the tropical island resort that helps couples work out problems in the marriage. One couple had decided to divorce due to problems conceiving, but this trip was a last chance to make their marriage work. The other three couples enabled all to go half price, but they did not want counseling – they were there to play, to enjoy the sun and jet ski.

   Counseling is mandatory at 6 a.m as a group and then individual couples counseling sessions as well. A satire of psycho-therapists that cause problems or complicate the couples lives ensues – whether steam baths with snow, snorkeling, yoga, New Age philosophy, or Asian teachings. It becomes too much for all of them, and nothing is helping. Soon they all end up on “Eden East” – the singles side of the island. For some odd reason they all realize what marriage means from that vacuous adventure.

   If Lucy and Desi Arnez were alive today, they could have made Couples Retreat a hilarious laugh riot. Instead we get very rare funny moments and a bland moral lesson.
   

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4. amerdale876

   October 10, 2010 at 2:16 pm

   Review by amerdale876 for Couples Retreat
   Rating:
   Most might think my two-and-half rating is quite scathing and therefore, think poorly of this film right off the bat. However, don’t be too discouraged. “Couples Retreat” isn’t all that bad. However, it’s not noticeable either. The cast is all great with the exception of Kali Hawk, whose role could’ve honestly been played by any up-and-comer young pretty thing actress. I enjoyed the other Vince Vaughn-Jon Favreau vehicle Four Christmases more than this one.

   The concept and structure of the story felt all too “sitcom special-goes-to-Hawaii,” with each couple’s problems magically getting resolved within one vacation. And although I could see a pair like Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl (in Knocked Up – Unrated (Two-Disc Collector’s Edition)) as a couple, the pairing of Vaughn and Malin Akerman seemed a little too unbelievable to me. I know Vaughn’s a funny guy and all (I’d love to hang out with the guy), but it felt a bit too plotted and not real. Then again, this is a movie!

   Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell shine as actors but are annoying as a couple who I would dread if I was friends with them in real life. This movie is enjoyable enough for those who enjoy nice, little romantic comedies, but it shouldn’t be at the top of their queue to view. Instead, catch Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (MUCH better!) or even treat yourself to Valentine’s Day.

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5. Lyric

   October 10, 2010 at 1:40 pm

   Review by Lyric for Couples Retreat
   Rating:
   I had been wanting to see this movie for a long time and finally went to see it two nights ago. After reading some of the bad reviews, the critics rating the movie a “C” and only 2 stars from […], I was a bit skeptical. I forgot about the ratings and decided to see the movie anyway.

   I laughed throughout the whole movie, as well as the audience. There were younger people (early 20’s), 30’s – 40’s, as well as a couple who were around the age of 60 in the audience. The elderly couple was sitting in front of me and as far as I could tell, they had a blast.

   Despite the reviews of the critics and some viewers, I enjoyed this movie. I don’t want to give any of the movie away but it’s a laid back, hilarious story of one couple needing to work on their marriage and three other couples that wind up in the middle of all the chaos. There are different struggles and adventures that happen throughout the movie. As a poster had previously stated, it shows how different men and women truly are. This film also shows real life situations and things that come up in relationships and marriages often these days. Even though it’s a “funny film”, there are a few aspects of the movie that had the audience “aww’ing” but then belching out with screams and laughter right after.

   If you’ve been wanting to see this movie, are a Vince Vaughn fan, or just need a good comedy (yes men, don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll laugh at the movie just as much, if not more) – I would definitely recommend this film.

   This is NOT recommended to watch with children in the room nor taking them to the movie theater to see it with you.

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6. A. Murray

   October 10, 2010 at 12:34 pm

   Review by A. Murray for Ghostbusters Double Feature Gift Set (Ghostbusters/ Ghostbusters 2 and Commemorative Book)
   Rating:
   The outside box does say that GB is in fullscreen and GB2 is in widescreen. However, that is a misprint. Originally they did intend to release it this way, but the backlash was so severe that they reversed this (stupid) decision. I guess the box artwork was already printed by this point. Rest assured that the actual movies are BOTH in widescreen and there is not even a fullscreen option. The inside boxes do both indicate widescreen.

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7. I hate society.

   October 10, 2010 at 11:11 am

   Review by I hate society. for Ghostbusters Double Feature Gift Set (Ghostbusters/ Ghostbusters 2 and Commemorative Book)
   Rating:
   I received the DVD a few days earlier than expected, and in an unexpected way.

   There was a knock on the door, it was maybe 2 in the morning. I don’t really remember. I slowly got out of bed and peeked through the doorhole to see who it could possibly be.

   It was Bill effing Murray. Dressed up as a ghostbuster. When I opened the door, he clicked a remote to turn on a stereo boombox he had with him. Ghostbusters theme blaring, he starts dancing. 70’s disco style.

   After “WHO YOU GONNA CALL,” he held the DVD case up to my face and paused the song. I was silent, he lowered the case and put it in my face again.

   “Ghostbusters?” I asked.

   He started the music again, put the dvd down on my doormat, took the boombox and danced away.

   I opened up the DVD case when I got back inside, and on the INSIDE of the SHRINK WRAPPED DVD CASE, I kid you not there was a note that read

   “No one will ever believe you. No one buys DVDs anymore.”

   I got noise complaints from other people in the apartment the next day. I told them I was sorry and wouldn’t play my music so loud. Let’s face it. No one would believe otherwise.

   Excellent DVD. High quality video and audio, and the extras are AWESOME.

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