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We're the Millers



We're the Millers is an overlong but somewhat amusing sitcom episode stretched out to feature length film size, but doesn't really have enough material to stretch that far.

The film stars Jason Sudeikis as a small time drug dealer who, in order to clear a debt, agrees to retrieve a large shipment of marijuana from Mexico and in order to appear less conspicuous, persuades a stripper (Jennifer Aniston), a neglected kid in his building (Will Poulter), and an overly sensitive homeless girl (Emma Roberts) to pose as his family on a family holiday south of the border.

Though the film boasts an attractive cast and does provides some laughs, it goes on way too long, evidenced in the fact that the actual event of crossing the border with the drugs occurs about 20 minutes into the film and there's actually another 98 minutes of screentime that is pretty much just padding about the off and on bonding process that eventually melds these four strangers into a somewhat believable family unit, but it takes WAY longer than necessary and it's not all that interesting.

Screenwriters Bob Fisher and Steve Faber have constructed a somewhat overly cute and sometimes overly edgy screenplay that intends to shock but more than often condescends and Rawson Thurber's direction is kind of pedestrian considering the many twists and turns the story takes.

Sudeikis does show some leading man potential but doesn't have a lot of chemistry with Aniston, who gets ample opportunities to show off her comic timing as well as her physical assets. The film seems to be built around her character, which doesn't necessarily increase its appeal. Will Poulter actually has the lion's share of the film's funniest moments as the fake son including a kissing lesson with Aniston and Roberts that appeared to be a lot of fun.

The film seems to be sort of a contemporary updating of National Lampoon's Vacation but nowhere near as funny and way too long.