We're The Millers

Oh, hello reader, I didn't see you there, but I'm glad you are here.  I want to extend to you an invitation of sorts, one which will challenge your mind to accept a very unreal fact about our "relationship".  I want you to pretend for the next handful of minutes that I am not just an exceptional writer, but a relative of yours, perhaps a distant uncle or grandfather.  I'll give you a moment to decide what I will be...........................got it?  Good.  Now sit back, relax, and give your mind permission to follow along with your...(fill in the relationship blank) while I drop some knowledge on you about my newest review subject: We're The Millers.

For starters, HILARIOUS!, secondly, VERY HILARIOUS!  Hopefully this insight will help paint the picture for you.  This film follows David Clark (Jason Sudeikis), a.k.a Poppa Miller, and his "family": 

     Sarah "Rose" O'Reilly (Jennifer Aniston) a.k.a. Sarah "Rose" Miller,

     Kenny Rossmore (Will Poulter) a.k.a. Kenny Miller, sensing a theme are we??, and

     Casey Mathis (Emma Roberts) a.k.a. Casey Miller.

This pieced together team of vagabond, stripper, drug dealer, and weirdo (oddest A-Team ever) came together with one goal in mind: to smuggle a smidge and a half of marijuana from Mexico to Colorado.  Sounds like it should be easyish, right?  Well assuming, that is, you can make it past the border guards and their drug sniffing canines and automatic weapons, and don't become the targeted victim of drug theft by an evil drug kingpin and his massive mountain of a human.  Piece of cake, hire a fake family, travel back into America in an RV, and you're home free.  Oh, and let's not forget that one little detail, what exactly is a smidge and a half?

 2 tons to be exact!

At this point in my story ladies and gentleman, I would like to mention the fact that this film was basically all plot and story.  There was nothing overly spectacular about how the film looked, or any special effects used in the process.  It was a very standard film with a roughly standard story, however, using a very non-standard process and path to get to the ending.

What made this story so unique was having the main character consciously realize that the best way to get past the scrutinizing eye of the U.S. Border Patrol, was to give himself a beard.  No people, I am not referring to facial hair.  David Clark realized that by adopting the appearance of a typical American family, and acting the part, they instantly look less guilty than one man driving a large recreational vehicle into and out of Mexico solo.  Again, interesting and unique process.  What made this story "standard" was the fact that in the end, all parties have grown accustomed to one another and attached, thus leading to each one having a desire to continue their charade.  I found this to be rather bogus and cliche.  I believe that this whole trip, flying from Denver to Albuquerque, then driving from Albuquerque into Mexico, grabbing the drugs, Mexico into the U.S. and back to Denver was literally just a couple of days.  In fact, the film's clock only shows us 2 nights, yet somehow after these 2 nights, all parties who originally disliked the others, were now longing to continue their cover story.  Flimsy.  There was even a scene where David "Miller" Clark was describing each of his family members wholeheartedly, with admiration and adoration.  Again, seemed a little rushed for the small time period we were witness to.

Now, let's get away from semantics here, because we all know that films don't necessarily follow the path of realism.  Within the film world, there aren't really any more original stories.  In fact, some say that as a whole, original stories consist of only a handful of ideas, mostly films are adapting these ideas and tweaking them.  That is common practice since Hollywood big-wigs don't want a story which hasn't been tested, they want the safe bet, something they can bank on.  We're The Millers was a good example of the lack of original overall plot, but a perfect use of the tweak.  As I said above, for a standard ending, the path was very non-standard.  Yet, it was the path which gave this film all of its character.  The comedy was at times relentless in its pacing; one after the other after the other.  Sometimes the jokes were deliberate while others were indirect (things said vs. reactions).  Again one thing is definitely for sure about this film, you will not be disappointed.  You may actually find yourself wanting to get back into line for another go around, I know I did.

Final Words: Large Popcorn 
The minute you start laughing, you're stuck.  This film does not give up, instead gets more and more funny.  You will find yourself wanting more and more, and before you know it, it's over.  This film is vulgar and incredible inappropriate for anyone under the age of 18, and more importantly, anyone uncomfortable around sexual and drug innuendos and crude humor and language.  If that is not you, go see this film immediately, you'll thank me.

Until next time, happy viewing!

Review Rating based on popcorn sizes: small, medium, large, extra-large; 

films worth skipping get snore...zzzzz