FILM REVIEW: We’re the Millers

Predictable and uncomfortable, We’re the Millers is another forgettable road trip comedy.

Instead of picking up an identity fraudster, this film follows small-time Denver drug dealer David (Jason Sudekis) as he goes on a drug-smuggling trip to Mexico to get out of trouble with his boss.

To draw less attention to himself David decides to come up with a cover and hires two of his neighbours: recently jobless stripper Rose (Jennifer Anniston) and naïve 18-year-old Kenny (Will Poulter) as well as homeless girl Casey (Emma Roberts) to be his pretend family: the Millers.

In their humongous RV they set off on a predictable road trip to pick up a “smidge” of marijuana to smuggle back across the border.

As you can imagine there are obstacles along the way with most of them having predictable and unfunny ends.

The happy ‘family’ bumps into the Fitzgeralds, who provide some awkward moments, although the husband and wife (Nick Offerman and Kathryn Hahn) provide more rounded performances than David and Rose. Jason Sudekis gets an A for effort but a pass overall, while Jennifer Anniston’s performance is far from spectacular, but really it’s hard to shine with the script they’re given.

Ed Helm as David’s druglord boss is uncomfortable to watch, with his flashy white teeth and overacting.

The film’s screenwriters manage to put each of the Millers in uncomfortable and sometimes crude positions, including a scene where Kenny has a spider crawl up his shorts.

Director Rawson Marshall Thurbers’ We’re the Millers is unfortunately just another one of those road trip films to put in the ‘don’t go there’ pile.

by Isabella Pittaway

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