Movie Review – We’re the Millers

In Movie Reviews, Reviews, Theatrical Releases by Chris GirouxAugust 7, 20136 Comments

We’re the Millers is a refreshing diversion from a summer platter of Superheroes, Robots, Zombies and annoying blue creatures. It plays like a modern National Lampoon’s Vacation film with raunchier, edgier material, while maintaining a family-comes-first message. But make no mistake about it, this isn’t a movie for the younglings.

David Clark ([tooltip text=”Horrible Bosses, Saturday Night Live” placement=”top”]Jason Sudeikis[/tooltip]), is a small-time drug dealer caught in a tough position with his boss/supplier. David is robbed of his “merchandise” and cash when attempting to prevent the mugging of a homeless teenager, Casey ([tooltip text=”Aquamarine, Nancy Drew” placement=”top”]Emma Roberts[/tooltip]). David’s boss, Brad Gurdlinger ([tooltip text=”The Hangover, The Office” placement=”top”]Ed Helms[/tooltip]), expects payment, but will forgive the debt plus add a hefty payday if David smuggles a “smidgeon” of pot across the Mexico border.

David has no experience in the drug smuggling business, but while devising a plan, he and a do-good neighbor kid named Kenny ([tooltip text=”The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” placement=”top”]Will Poulter[/tooltip]) notice a family RV receive very little “interest” from a traffic cop. An idea is born. David hires Casey and Kenny, along with Rose O’Reilly ([tooltip text=”Wanderlust, Friends” placement=”top”]Jennifer Aniston[/tooltip]), a local stripper who could use the cash to settle her own financial woes. The Miller’s family-up and head to Mexico.

A small amount of pot turns into an RV stuffed full of pot, but the Millers are determined to cash-in. Along the way, the Millers are chased by an upset Mexican Cartel and are inadvertently buddied up with an overzealous RV family, of which the father just so happens to be a DEA agent.

We’re the Millers pushes the raunchy humor without being just plain gross. The most memorable scenes involve Will Poulter in an uncomfortable kissing scene with “mom” and “sis”, and laugh-out-loud spider bite in the family jewels. Poulter’s baby-boy looks are perfectly cast in this role. Then there’s Jason Sudeikis, who’s been silently sitting in a corner waiting for this movie. He shines as David Clark in a performance reminiscent of that other Clark (Griswold), minus the family-first mantra, though he eventually learns the value of a strong family bond. Jennifer Aniston has found her niche in these r-rated comedies and no one’s complaining about her stripping scenes around here.

It’s not something your going to want to gather around with as a family, but it’s got an oddly warm family message about it. Director [tooltip text=”Dodgeball” placement=”top”]Rawson Marshall Thurber[/tooltip] does a fine job inserting something different into a summer box office rife with big budget blockbusters. We’re the Millers is for the less conservative movie-goer hungry for something funny.

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Chris Giroux

Movie Reelist Contributor: Chris Giroux

Chris Giroux is founder and editor-in-charge at Movie Reelist, an entertainment news and review blog serving the most fanatic moviegoers. Chris started his publication in Detroit in 2010 and has since reviewed hundreds of films and interviewed numerous talent across the country. He is an avid film festival attendee and red carpet photographer, having shot the likes of Steven Spielberg, Bill Murray, Mark Hamill, and more. Chris grew up in New Mexico, where he studied mass media writing while working in post-production and multimedia authoring. It is also where he discovered Big Trouble in Little China and Escape from New York, resulting in an unhealthy Kurt Russell obsession.