[Review: IN THEATRES] WE'RE THE MILLERS (6/10)

We’re The Millers is ultimately a sweet comedy with a filthy mind: when it works, it works, when it doesn’t – it’s not exactly boring so much as it’s a misfire. Jason Sudeikis stars as David Clark, a small time Denver pot dealer who works for Brad Gurdlinger (Ed Helms) a guy with too much money. After David is robbed he’s given the opportunity to make good on his debts, transporting a “smidge” of primo product across the border from Mexico.

In order to remain undetected he recruits Kenny (played by British actor Will Poulter) a shy awkward kid, a homeless girl Casey (Emma Roberts) and his neighbor the stripper Rose (Jennifer Aniston). So sets in motion this story where things go well (allegedly you can cross the Mexico/USA border without a passport if your in an R.V. – if only things were that easy on the Peace Bridge) at first: filling all available compartments with Grade A grass they head back to the good ol’ US of A. Encountering a few obstacles along with way (including Luis Guzman – always nice to see him again) and the Fitzgeralds. Don (Nick Offerman) is a DEA agent dealing with some sexual frustration with wife Edie (Kathryn Hahn); they have a daughter Melissa (Molly C. Quinn) who develops a sweet relationship with Kenny.

We’re The Millers isn’t without some surprises and a critique of suburban heterosexual norms but ultimately it’s plot is predicable. Perhaps this is what you came for (and a little more, hence a tick above average) but here’s a film where the trailers pretty much tell it all, and they are truthful. If you think your going to like this film, you probably will.

Mrs. Fitzgerald – Hahn – has some of the biggest and most uncomfortable laughs, as that whole sequence works (in fact it’d be great if the whole film was told in a non-linear style opening in one awkward camp sequence) – but Dodgeball director Rawson Marshall Thurber (fantastic name!) keeps the energy level on high, along with the predictability factor.

The cast is effective with Sudeikis getting his first chance to play the lead – he’s funny as a kind of stock character he does well. Aniston also pulls off this role and for Poulter this is a starmaking role, he’s never done this before and he proves he can hold his own against McLovin. All and all We’re The Millers could have been a balls to the wall original comedy, or something deeper than it is (with bigger, unexpected pay offs) but the trains run right on time – efficient, surely – fun, indeed – brilliant, nope.

Screening: Regal Transit, Regal Quaker Crossing, Regal Walden, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood 12, AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Flix, Dipson Market Arcade, Transit Drive-In