Wanderlust
Directed by David Wain
- comedy
- romance
The story
Rattled by sudden unemployment, a Manhattan couple surveys alternative living options, ultimately deciding to experiment with living on a rural commune where free love rules.
What it’s like
Bright, unhurried daylight over green hillsides and a rambling wooden farmhouse, with the camera drifting through sun-warmed communal rooms, dusty porches and sprawling lawns, then cutting sharply to the grey, neon-edged clutter of Manhattan apartments. Its comedy plays out in loose, handheld wide shots and easygoing two-shots, with bright, slightly washed-out colour and a jaunty acoustic-and-banjo score that stays cheerfully on the surface. The vibe is breezy, sun-drenched satire: warm, silly and gently chaotic, with a lot of nudity played for laughs rather than titillation. The pacing is brisk and episodic, and the emotional arc follows a couple who slowly loosen their city anxieties and rethink what they want from each other. Expect frequent sexual humour and full nudity, some crude jokes and mild, slapstick-style conflict, but no real violence and little real danger. It suits a lazy weekend or a light comedy night for people who want goofy, adult-oriented romance with a sharp eye on modern urban neuroses.
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