Movieland Braces For Full Frontal Assault Of Couple’s Retreatmer

The big question is whether a trio of decent looking British imports can make a dent in the latest instalment of Vince Vaughn’s crusade against comedy. Our guess is no.

COUPLES RETREAT
Australian Release Date: 8 October 2009
The Story: Four couples venture to a idyllic island retreat where they are forced to confront what ails their troubled relationships.
The Pitch: He’s Just Not Into You meets Wedding Crashers
Who It’s For: Stagnating mid-life couples seeking 90 minutes of release from their private hell in mocking the private hells of other mid-life couples.
Cause for Hope: Actually a couple of mild laughs in the trailer; Veronica Mars has not quite worn out her welcome yet.
Cause for Concern: It will not end here. Vaughn has at least three other comedies already in development.
Defamer Enthusio-Meter: 3

AN EDUCATION
Australian Release Date: 22 October 2009
The Story: A teenage girl in Swinging ’60s London falls for a debonair suitor (Peter Sarsgaard) twice her age.
The Pitch: Georgy Girl meets Manhattan
Who It’s For: The Smart Set
Cause for Hope: No movie set London in the Swinging ’60s has ever been there. (No, the Austin Powers films weren’t actually set there, so they don’t count.)
Cause for Concern: Early Oscar buzz is generally a harbinger of mind-numbing tedium ahead.
Defamer Enthusio-Meter: 8

THE DAMNED UNITED
Australian Release Date: 15 October 2009
The Story: A soccer coach (Michael Sheen) takes on the most successful team in the UK in the 1970s, and makes waves challenging their style of play.
The Pitch: Victory meets The Full Monty
Who It’s For: Yobs and the yanks who love them.
Cause for Hope: From Peter Morgan, the screenwriter of The Queen and Frost/Nixon.
Cause for Concern: Soccer still just seems like a bunch of guys jogging around a big field and never scoring.
Defamer Enthusio-Meter: 7