By Ryan Huff, Staff Writer

In another stage of his free falling career, Vince Vaughn stars in another comedy that flat lines for what seems to be an eternity. Former child star Peter Billingsley (Christmas Story) directs this hack job.

The movie revolves around Dave (Vaughn) and Ronnie (Malin Akerman), a couple whose multiple failed attempts at pregnancy has pushed their marriage to the brink of divorce. In a last ditch attempt to save things, the couple decides to go on a couples retreat at a resort called Eden. Upon arriving to the island with their friends (Jon Favreau, Kristin Davis, Jason Bateman and other unfunny people), they are given a choice; participate in couples’ therapy and enjoy the islands pleasures or go home.

Predictably everyone chooses to stay and go through therapy. What happens from there is the typical “Vince Vaughn movie with no clear direction formula.  Everyone is put in an awkward situation, something completely unrealistic happens and here comes Vince Vaughn with a lame joke. Sounds familiar? That’s because “Four Christmases” and “The Break Up” were Vaughn’s last two adult comedies in the last four years, and both were horrible.

Aside from Vaughn’s unimpressive recent resume, I wanted to believe that he could recapture some of that magic that made “Swingers” a low budget classic with timeless appeal, but I was left wanting so much more. Jon Favreau again proves that he isn’t an actor who should be cast to help carry a film, and that the one-two punch of him and Vaughn in Swingers may have been a on-time thing, not the norm.

Also, why was Kristin Davis in this movie? I know there is a recession but I’m sure she is sitting pretty with all the “Sex and the City” royalties flowing in. She isn’t funny and looked out of place in this film. Also, Malin Akerman is just not a good actress. I know she’s from Sweden and that’s always a good thing, but the girl is just not talented.

Watching Vaughn in this movie is like watching a formerly great racehorse that stumbled, broke his legs and is limping to the finish line. You know it just needs to stop, but, for whatever reason, no one is doing anything. Vaughn’s career was so bright, but in 2006 his career grinded to halt like Mel Gibson after his Malibu “incident.”

“Couples Retreat” is just that movie that shouldn’t have been. It was a bunch of actors looking for a paycheck, and this movie was the messy aftermath.  Also, it’s a shame Peter Billingsley had to have this on his resume. “Christmas Story” is arguably the best holiday movie of all time. This was like Michael Jordan coming back to play with the Washington Wizards after his legacy was already sealed. Again, sometimes the paycheck dictates rather than logic and good reason.