A Guilty (Film) Pleasure

Ah, the road trip comedy—there is a place for them in the film world, even if you think your tastes are too refined. Then one day in the heart of summer of ‘09 you find yourself howling at The Hangover, and a decade later slapping on a decal of a baby in a beanie on the back of your electric vehicle.

We’re older now, and if you were entertained at all by The Hangover, you might want something that pushes the comedy envelope a bit further. Enter We’re the Millers (2013), starring Jason Sudekis and Jennifer Aniston. It’s The Hangover for grown-ups—a little less flashy with the action, a lot more sexual innuendo and f-bombs, and seriously funny comedians.

I might have lost some of you already. But for those of you still here, thank you, and hear me out: Jason Sudekis is having a moment, fresh from his Golden Globe win for Ted Lasso. (He’s also fresh from a divorce from Olivia Wilde, so he could use the accolades. Be sure to check out seasons 34-42 of Saturday Night Live, which I will also probably write about one day because I think it’s the greatest era of the show’s 46-year running.) This was his post-SNL debut, and a must-see for any fan of his.

The premise of We’re The Millers: a small time weed dealer hires an RV, and a group of perfect strangers with issues of their own, to pose as his family so he can smuggle “a smidge of marijuana” in from Mexico. And of course, hilarity ensues.

This movie is not without its flaws—it was never going to be a contender for any prizes during award season. As a buddy comedy where they don’t start out as buddies, there is the predictable they-finally-fall-in-love trope, and it takes too long to play out. The laughs come at you at a faster pace in the first half as it loses its steam after an hour. And Jennifer Anniston as an exotic dancer is just a big’ol mess. (The scene where she attempts to distract her captives by stripteasing to Aerosmith can be fast forwarded altogether.)

However, why this movie is comedy gold—and why it ought to have had as big of a following as The Hangover, if not bigger—is the individual performances of Sudekis, Will Poulter, Nick Offerman, Katherine Hahn, Ed Helms, Ken Marino, and the character of Scotty P., whose actor, whoever he is, should know that I reference “No Ragrets” regularly to this day. There are also cameos by Luis Guzman and Thomas Lennon that should make this film a fixture in the halls of great funny cast ensembles (or at least make a comedy fan sit up and pay attention).

Sudekis is David, a street-level cannabis slinger, “the best in Denver”. (This takes place before the use and sale of recreational marijuana was decriminalized in Colorado. If anything it makes this film a period piece?) He’s only out to take care of himself, but there are glimpses into some goodness in him, such as his policy not to sell to kids and then gets “rolled by the f*kin cast of Annie” trying to save another kid from getting robbed themselves.

Jennifer Anniston is Rose/Sarah who dances at the local strip club and has the usual gripes about work—her boss is unreasonable, she never gets a real break, her patrons have hooks for hands. As the older, wiser employee she imparts advice on the new girl, Kymberly with a Y/Boner Garage. She and David hate each other for some reason and spend most of the screen time fighting with each other (but forty-seven minutes in you find out why).

There’s British actor Will Poulter as Kenny, a kind and too-chivalrous-for-his-own-good teenage neighbor, who volunteers (i.e. does it for free) to go along with David’s plot. Poulter is incredibly good at the American accent here and is so endearing you just want to crawl into the screen and give him a hug. Rounding up the fam is Casey, played by Emma Roberts, a teenager “unsatisfied with her home life” and “looks like Eminem from 8 Mile”.

But as any good journey story does, we meet a cast of supporting characters along the way who don’t do much to move the story along, but provide points of interest, like a roadside attraction.

Nick Offerman and Katherine Hahn steal the show as another “real-life Ned Flanders” couple on a trip with their daughter and RV. Offerman is a character similar to his role on Parks and Recreation, but with warmth. He loves his (Christian) God, hates Bin Laden (remember, this is 2013) and drinks coffee from his gallon-sized mug while he drives. Hahn plays his supportive wife and is everything you love about Katherine Hahn—fully immersed in a character who has no idea that people are laughing at them.

If you do anything with this film, watch it for these actors doing what they do best. And also for these stand-alone moments:

2:08: Lennon’s cameo as an old college buddy, who is now the Dad of all Dads. His day is made when Sudekis gives him some of his stash, on the house, for old times’ sake. You’ve never seen a happier father jump into a minivan.

5:13: Aniston’s boss at the strip club, played by Marino, walks in to the dressing room with a cup of coffee in his hand, á la Office Space (1999).

“Hey Rose, I know you’re technically on break, but I need a lap dance, Table 5. Just don’t get too close. The guy has two hook hands.”

“How did we let that guy back in here?”

“Must have picked the locks.”

10:29: Helms’ secretary offers head-covered hostage Sudekis a drink, and he taps his chin as if he can see her. “Hmm, you know what? A Fresca sounds really good. He turns to his captors. “You guys want anything? It’s on me.” Later they drag him into Helms’ office as he holds his can of Fresca with a straw in it, while he still has his head covered.

13:05: Helms as Sudekis’ boss says, “You don’t get respect from Mexicans when your name is Brad Gurdlinger. That’s white in any language.”

14:00: Sudekis, when Poulter suggests he wear a disguise while crossing the border: “What’s the hot Halloween outfit these days? Bane from Batman? *in Bane’s voice from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises (2012)* There’s no drugs in here, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

32:35: Luis Guzman as a local cop looking for a bribe. Sudekis comes up with a football-style play.

36:50: We meet Nick Offerman and Katherine Hahn. Thus begins phase 2 of the story.

47:05: In Bad Moms (2016) there is a scene where Hahn’s character explains how you have sex with a man with an un-circumcised penis. This is the OG Katherine Hahn straight-faced monologue of lewd TMI sharing, this time involving a tampon (“TAM-pin”).

55:30: The “family” plays Pictionary and Aniston thinks Poulter’s skateboard is a “big black cock...Blackhawk Down!”

1.20:40: Scotty P. graces the RV with his presence, “know I’m sayin’?” And the memes started rolling in.

1.26:20; Speaking of memes, here is the source of the universally applicable, “You guys are getting paid”?

And finally, even if you don’t watch any of the above clips, see 42:00, Poulter’s internet-famous rendition of TLC’s Waterfalls. You’re welcome.