Wanderlust Movie Blurb by Shale February 25, 2012 I've seen a couple of reviews of this movie that didn't trash it but accurately pointed out that it was just so-so and only good for a filler movie in February. Have to agree, it coulda been better, but except for a couple of grating parts it was OK and entertaining. As in Role Models, Paul Rudd is good at playing characters that I just want to slap. The movie opens in NYC, where George (Paul Rudd) and his wife Linda (Jennifer Aniston) are driving a realtor crazy trying to decide if they want to buy an extremely expensive and extremely small loft. No sooner than they commit to that, George loses his job and Linda hasn't kept a steady job anyhow. Their only option is to pack up and drive to Atlanta where George's successful but obnoxious brother (Ken Marino) can put him on at his company. On the way they have to find a place for the night and their GPS sends them to a bed & breakfast at Elysium, which turns out to be a commune of Hippie wannabes living in the property of founder Carvin (Alan Alda) who has perhaps taken too much acid. They enjoy the evening of smoking dope and skinny dipping with the free spirits, then off to Atlanta the next day. The Elysium Group They spend about a day or two at obnoxious brother's house before a big blow-up and they have to leave. Knowing the mellow vibes at the commune they decide to take them up on their invite to stay. Of course George & Linda are displaced New Yorkers, not true Hippies so there is a bit of adjustment, like no doors or privacy (including the bathroom). Discussions on the Toilet And the occasional nudity, especially with Wayne (Joe Lo Truglio) the winemaker and suspense novel writer who is never dressed. There is an impressive full frontal of Wayne, tho I have read that it is a prosthesis (What's the point of a prosthetic penis & scrotum if the actor already has those parts?) Nudist Winemaker/Writer There are conflicts at Elysium for our newbies. Things that we enjoyed so casually in the '70s like sharing your partner with other free luv members like the somewhat leader Seth (Justin Theroux) or the very hot Eva (Malin Akerman) prove problematic to George (and is one of the Rudd scenes that did not work for me). George & Linda & Seth (Wanna Share?) Also there is a large casino wanting to lay claim to the land and Carvin can't remember where his deed is stashed. So, the story progresses with a few laffs along the way and a good way for me to spend an hour and a half in the afternoon. As you may know, I actually did partake of some of this lifestyle in the early '70s (Uh, check out the site we're on). So none of it looked really outrageous to me, tho the tripping scenes and the afterbirth were a bit over the top. But the stoned rap sessions, and skinny dipping were the real thing and one of the most known nudist resorts in Southern California from 1968 was called Elysium. In fact, my first skinny dipping experience was at the Atlanta Pop Festival of 1970 in Byron Georgia - then continued in the clothing casual crash pads and communes around New Orleans. This movie was also shot on location at a couple of nudist resorts in Georgia, using real nudists as extras in some scenes. Jennifer Aniston, like so many ppl discovered her inhibitions subside once you find yourself nude with other accepting ppl. (Don't go there thinking you're actually gonna see Aniston naked) Here is more on that from the American Association for Nude Recreation. http://www.aanr.com/blog/wanderlust-movie-opens-friday/
Loved the concept of this movie when I saw the preview. However, was disappointed in watching it. Started off great, but then the movie went way wrong. Uncomfortable scenes like Paul Rudd talking to the mirror as if he were talking to the character Eva... it was over the top and disgustingly crude. I dont know how to explain it... but very disappointed with the film.
I hated that scene - it pretty much ruined the movie for me. Why the hell would they even put that in? I know I had the advantage of being in the thick of the free luv days but even now there is no reason a guy (given permission by his wife) to anguish over having non-committal sex with Malin Akerman.
Looks like its still worth a watch. Looks amusing. Doesnt sound as good as i thought it would be though
I just saw this movie yesterday, I hated the same scene too. This film got too crude and too much swearing for me, it seemed irrelevant and not needed to me. Although without that I think it was a good movie. I liked Jennifer Aniston's character and how she was blossoming and enjoying her experience of it so much. I liked the nudist's character, he was fun, and a lot of the other characters are interesting too. It's the film that lead me to this forum, it's made me more curious about communes and I'd love to know more of what goes on in them.
