Maybe Jon and Vince are best apart

Posted Oct 9, 2009 by Kevin Walker

Updated Oct 9, 2009 at 10:08 AM

Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn (who star in “Couples Retreat,” opening today) have been linked since the movie “Swingers” in 1996. I’m not saying that’s a good thing, although they certainly think so.
We know this because five years after “Swingers” they basically played the same characters in “Made,” with diminishing returns. Favreau is the nebbish over thinker, Vaughn is the fast-talking, too-smart-to-be-a-slacker slacker looking for a good time.
They are together again in “Couples Retreat,” and the reviews are (mainly) scathing. (As an aside, this means nothing for the film’s box office hopes. Many of the weekend box office winners in recent months haven’t even been screened for critics. But that’s another issue)
Here’s the problem I think most people have with the Favreau-Vaughn pairing: Vince Vaughn is annoying. There, I said it. What makes this interesting to me is that Favreau and Vaughn know this; much of the comedy in their movies is based on this annoyance, as Favreau’s character struggles to deal with the overbearing shenanigans of Vaughn’s character.
That doesn’t make their films good, however. I would argue that despite their friendship and films together, they actually do better apart. Vaughn’s best movie playing his usual character is “Wedding Crashers,” in which Owen Wilson as his friend makes him more tolerable, like a grouchy big brother. And my favorite Favreau movie is “Elf,” which he directed and is Vaughn-less (disclosure: this might be because I have a kid in elementary school). Also, of course, “Iron Man,” because it is awesome.
If the two dreamed of creating some sort of modern day Martin and Lewis team, well, didn’t happen. Still, just in case you like what you see in “Couples Retreat,” here are other Favreau-Vaughn movies.
“Rudy” (1993). Forgot this one? Surely you remember Favreau as D-Bob? And Vaughn as Jamie O’Hara? OK, me either. I just noticed today that Vaughn is even in the film. I only included this so some eagle-eyed reader wouldn’t email me about it.
“Swingers” (1996). Two guys and their friends look to pick up girls in the LA lounge scene. Single men who want to self-identify as hipsters found this movie particularly inspiring. Easily their best movie, although you might get tired of hearing Vaughn tell people they are “money.”
“Made” (2001). Two aspiring boxers get involved with organized crime. Basically, it’s “Swingers” with a touch more danger.
“The Break-Up” (2006). Painfully unfunny movie about a guy (Vaughn) and a girl (Jennifer Aniston) breaking up and fighting over their condo. Favreau plays a friend. I still regret the 107 minutes I lost to this.
“Four Christmases” (2008). Largely ignored Christmas flick about a couple (Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon) forced to visit the four households of their divorced parents. Favreau is just a tad miscast as Vaughn’s professional fighter brother.