Wandering comedy vehicle drives mostly straight

The saying goes that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Judd Apatow has practically written the perfect formula for modern absurdist humour, complete with poop jokes, dimwits and rampant, unexpected nudity.

Apatow is the brainchild and/or power force and/or driving influence behind such Hollywood hits like Anchorman, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Superbad and so many others. They all have the tenor of strong farcical humour like you would expect from Monty Python, except that it’s somehow translated via a group of goofy, fun-loving, American comedians.

If you walk into the theatre for Wanderlust with this kind of knowledge then nothing much will surprise you, not even the ridiculously over-the-top nude scenes. It should be mentioned that most of the movie takes place inside Elysium, a throwback to the hippie communes and enclaves of the past, complete with free drugs, free love and freedom from the oppression of clothing.

Linda (Jennifer Aniston) and George (Paul Rudd) are a New York couple looking to move up the social ladder when fate kicks them back to the first rung. They are forced to sell their new apartment, pack up their things and try to get back on their feet by moving in with George’s brother, Rick (Ken Marino). Before they arrive at his house, they decide to spend the night at a roadside bed and breakfast.

They’re greeted by Wayne Davidson (Joe Lo Truglio) in his full natural splendour. Elysium is meant to be an oasis away from the chaos and strife of places like New York. This leads Linda and George to be taken aback initially before they warm up to the friendly, pressure-less group. There’s the beautiful Eva (Malin Akerman), the guru-like Seth (Justin Theroux), the very pregnant Almond (Lauren Ambrose) and the place’s founder, Carvin (Alan Alda).

This becomes a story about people trying to find themselves and their places in the world. Linda and George struggle to adapt yet resist returning to the safety of the world they used to know.

All in all, it’s not a bad piece of work with some outrageous parts that make you laugh out loud. It’s mostly harmless fun with no outright sex scenes and little violence. The nudity is the thing that could possibly upset some people. It’s rated 14A but you should hesitate before you take your 14-year-old to a screening. In many ways, it’s refreshingly educational to see the full human form after 50, so for that, Wanderlust has a higher purpose as well.

Audiences can always refer to the Alberta Film Ratings website at www.albertafilmratings.ca for more information and to stay knowledgeable about what they and their children are watching.