The Film
The State lives on! The '90s half-hour sketch-comedy series has its fingerprints all over the new comedy Wanderlust -- and it's a good thing.
Despite having mega-stars Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston anchor this comedy, more than half of the defunct MTV series shows up at some point during the movie. That's no surprise, since it was written by State alums David Wain and Ken Marino. The two previously shared a pen credit on 2008's Role Models, another Rudd flick. Judd Apatow completes the circle by squeezing his name into a producer credit. Need a graphical chart yet?
The plot is a lot simpler -- and funnier, thankfully. Rudd and Aniston star as George and Linda, a couple forced to give up their thimble-sized New York apartment after George loses his job. While en route to a new life working for George's brother (Marino), the two get sidetracked at Elysium, a commune with the best cast of characters a movie has seen in quite some time. Look for funny lines from Malin Akerman, Kathryn Hahn, Lauren Ambrose, Jordan Peele, and Alan Alda. Also, State stars Kerri Kenney-Silver and Joe Lo Truglio have pretty big roles. Lo Truglio, in particular, is hard to miss; just look for the giant penis!
Wanderlust crapped out at the box office. That's surprising, given the talented cast (Alice's Linda Lavin!). It's also a shame. It's a big of a goof-fest, but still has plenty of laughs.
The Picture
Wanderlust is pretty wonderful, from an image standpoint. The 1.85:1 transfer has a ton of detail. Joe Lo Truglio's prosthetic may be a tad bit too lifelike, but there is some nice imagery in the Elysium surroundings, as well as on the faces of its residents. Color is very lifelike, with plenty of earthy tones and bright moments too. It's pretty much what you'd expect from a newer film starring two A-listers.
The Sound
The DTS-HD Master Audio track is surprisingly good for a comedy. The beginning of the film showcases some nice city atmosphere and a strong soundtrack for the surrounds. That soundtrack is pretty bold throughout the film, but never interferes with the dialogue or the occasional didgeridoo.
The Extras
Wanderlust features a very nice extras package. Kicking things off is "Wanderlust: The Bizarro Cut." This is basically a re-edit of the movie, which cuts down scenes, adds in jokes, and is all around, well... bizarro. If you're going to watch this one, make sure to view the theatrical version first. Otherwise, it comes off disjointed and strange.
Next up, is the commentary, with David Wain, Ken Marino, Paul Rudd, and Kevin Pollak. Um, what? Pollak wasn't even in the movie, but he manages to make this track pretty entertaining, adding in impressions of Albert Brooks, Christopher Walken, Peter Falk, and others. Why? Well, why not?
Other features include deleted scenes, a gag reel and a few featurettes. One of the most interesting is "God Afton!: Behind the Scenes of Wanderlust." While a lot of this plays like a typical promo piece, it does squeeze in a lot of good behind-the-scenes info and footage from the set.
Final Thoughts
Both Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston have done better. Frankly, though, Wanderlust got a bit of a bad rap. It's a funny movie -- definitely funny enough for a rental. Fans of David Wain, Ken Marino, and State-style comedy may want to go for the full purchase, though. It also helps that it's a nice release, with a great image, above-average sound and a fun package of extras.
Product Details
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