Wanderlust. Why was it called that?

So I got bored this evening and wanted to just walk around the book store and Byrne read a few things (Byrne reading is a term used by comic fans where you sit in the store and read the comic, it was coined by famous writer/artist John Byrne). Well I get there and decide to check my phone to see if there is a movie playing that I would like to see. I wasn't down and out enough to see Ghost Rider, nor was I interested in the Rock's nipples enough to see Journey 2. Everything else isn't even worth thinking of something witty to say.

I get to the bottom of the listing of movies and I see that the new David Wain movie Wanderlust was playing. I had heard David Wain on a recent episode of the amazingly funny Comedy Bang Bang podcast and he mentioned the film. He didn't give away any plot details and only mentioned members of the cast in passing. But having seen David Wain produced movies and TV shows in the past I had a rough understanding of who was going to be in it and what kind of feel the movie would have.

I knew Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston were going to star in this movie but the best part about recent comedy movies for me have been picking out the guest stars. David Wain has been producing comedies on the big and small screen for years so he has a few friends. It wasn't all that surprising to see Ken Marino (who also co-wrote the script), Joe Lo Truglio, Todd Barry, and Alan Alda.

The story was just okay. Young couple in New York try to buy an apartment but after their careers take a turn for the worst they go to live with Rudd's brother. They find themselves at a commune and begin to see themselves in this world. I don't want to give everything away so I will stop there. The story was fine but it wasn't very believable to me. There were many times where I needed to just go with it. That's not a bad thing but it happened frequently. I'm not nearly old to start worrying about owning a house or having a wife or wondering if I am stuck in a commune full of psychopaths.

Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, and even the writer/director David Wain could easily be right out of that stage in their lives. All three of them are into their 40s and from what I've seen people at that age have their lives more or less figured out. This movie seems like a way for David Wain, and in part the whole cast, to look back at the hard times in their lives and have a different perspective than when they were living them. I'm not trying to say that I know what any of the cast members have gone through in their lives, however I am saying it is plausible that this movie was a way for them to work through those hard times when they were first trying to make it in this world. Or they just wanted to make hippy jokes for three months.

Now you can go into each of the members of the commune and how they're quirks could possible equate to how they ended up where they do in this film. But this movie is a comedy. It is supposed to make people laugh. It did that in spades. I had a good time seeing this movie. I wasn't very invested in the story, it was entertaining but it fell short. What this movie had however was a lot of great comedians doing what they do best, making people laugh.

The theater wasn't packed by any stretch of the imagination. There were maybe 5 couples, myself, and this other guy who was there on his own, but there was a lot of laughs being had. This movie got people to laugh and I don't think you can ask for much more than that. Go see this movie, or don't, it's no skin off my back, but if you like to laugh and like Paul Rudd being awesome, this might be up your alley.




Here are a few pros and a single con:

Pros:

• Ken Marino as a stereotypical poohead older brother
• Doorless bedrooms, bathrooms, and every other -rooms
• Justin Theroux "fighting"
• Alan Alda suffering the residual effects of hallucinogens 
• David Wain, Michael Ian Black, and Michael Showalter as some of the funniest newscasters

Con:

• Too much of Joe Lo Truglio

I don't own that picture. 

I feel like I need to say that.