We’re The Millers
Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Will Poulter, Emma Roberts, Ed Helms,
Directed By: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Reviewed by Danielle Muir
Rating: [3.5/5]
Who knew Jason Sudeikis could not only carry a film with ease, but be one of the most likeable comedic men at the forefront of American gross-out comedy? We’re the Millers sees him transform from scruffy but loveable smalltime drug dealer to a hilarious caricature of the American father and, thanks to some seriously funny dialogue, his performance and the film stands out amongst other average comedies gone before it.
In order to smuggle ‘a smidge’ of weed across the border for his buck-toothed supplier (played by an off-kilter Ed Helms), Sudeikis’ David Clark brings together his surly stripper neighbour Rose (Aniston), punk runaway Casey Mathis (Roberts) and ultra-nerd Kenny Rossmore (Poulter embracing his physique with guts) to masquerade as, you guessed it, The Millers.
The main plot points are few in number and more a necessity to facilitate the cast showing off their comedic chops which suits the film just fine. There are chases, mix-ups, a baby made of weed, a mistaken white gringo and your average Mexican thugs – but the beauty is in the banter. Be warned – this is a movie about a family, not a family movie – profanities run wild, there’s a bit of naked flesh (mostly from a super-toned Aniston but Poulter certainly takes the cake) and some of the most squirm inducing scenes on print this year (a ‘family’ three-way pash particularly cringeworthy).
The cast have good chemistry and do their darndest – I didn’t really buy Aniston as a bona fide stripper and some of her dancing seems a bit wooden but her usual sharp dialogue delivery works well. Their piss-take at the clichéd American mom pop and two kids unit is brilliant, because it doesn’t seem a stretch from the truth – I imagine there are a lot of families roaming around in their RV’s and their Mexican sombreros. Shudder.
Great supporting roles from Nick Offerman and Kathryn Hahn (the real cliché with a secret desire for sexual perversion) and Mark L. Young as the gloriously intelligent Scotty P. (know what I’m saaaaayin’) really round out the solid cast, and help steamroll the high jinks and awkward moments.
We’re the Millers follows the very tried formula of throwing a bunch of crazy characters into a crazier situation – but great casting, a politically incorrect script full of zingers and some lovely family sentimentality makes this a fair cut above your average American comedy.
