Four Couples and a Laugh - Couples Retreat

Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn always had an easy chemistry between them. "Swingers" anyone?

In "Couples Retreat", they recreated fun and moderated hedonism in a couples-only retreat holiday set in Bora Bora (Tahiti) - with mixed results.

Jason and wife Cynthia (Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell) invite their married friends to join them on a 7-day marriage-saving retreat designed by an eccentric French guru Marcel (Jean Reno). As the therapy sessions begin, each couple begin to re-examine their marital relations. Will their Bora Bora holiday draw them closer or send them to the divorce courts? I'll give you one good guess.

Predictability is a staple in films like this, so you know exactly how the whole story ends. Nevertheless, you go along for the ride and hope that your ride is peppered with delightful characters that will make your journey a pleasure. By good measure, you will have fun. "Couples Retreat" has several funny situations - my favorite was the rollicking scene with hunky yoga instructor Salvadore (the delightfully campy Carlos Ponce - who showed a lot of skin!)

The second half is dampened by its trite storyline. But the story arc really had nowhere to go - until its rousing finish. Do you really expect a 5-hanky ending for a movie such as this one? Fun!

Vince Vaughn lost a piece of his thumb in a car accident - so keep your eyes on his thumb. He dislikes cell phones and doesn't own one.

Jason Bateman as "Jason" wants to save his marriage. On the roles that he gets offered: "I've been offered a couple of leads in some movies that really suck. I mean, you know, if they're offering me the lead, the script ain't that great. The stuff that's good, I'm a little further down the cast list." He is happily married to the daughter of singer Paul Anka.

Muscle-bearing yoga instructor Salvadore - the delectable singer-actor Carlos Ponce!

Smoldering sexuality - Carlos Ponce in color or black and white! This Puerto Rican hottie (who stands 6'1") graduated high school in Miami. And is happily married with 4 kids!