Alexandra Daddario and Josh Gad lead the strained relationship dramedy Couples Weekend, a film that fails to deliver either humor or realism despite an interesting premise. The movie follows two couples who fall apart during a midwinter break, resulting in shouty dialogue and mugging performances.
Plot and Characters
Daddario plays Debs, a book editor aspiring to be an author, while Gad portrays Mitch, her platonic college friend working in investment banking. They join their respective partners—Josh (Daveed Diggs), a hunky nature photographer, and Melanie (Ashley Park), an uptight bestselling cookbook author—for a New Year's getaway at a cozy woodland cabin. Tensions simmer beneath the surface, particularly for Mitch, who feels Melanie is out of his league.
The Central Conflict
The story pivots when Debs and Mitch return from a walk and witness Josh and Melanie having sex through the cabin window. Debs wants to confront them immediately, but Mitch hesitates, hoping to avoid upheaval. This leads to prolonged, uninteresting yelling and sobbing, with a brief moment of relief when the characters discover the cabin's moonshine stash.
Critical Comparison
The film's UK release coincides with Olivia Wilde's The Invite, a superior example of a spicy couples comedy. According to the review, Couples Weekend abandons its initial promising idea and offers no compensatory insight or fun. The movie is available on digital platforms from 13 July.
