Which means that We’re The Millers, the latest film from Dodgeball director Rawson Marshall Thurber, instantly feels a little different. Because whilst We’re The Millers has quite a few problems, it does actually deliver on the key reason for existence for a comedy movie: it’s funny. It’s mainly gentle chuckles, but with a couple of good guffaws. And then, there’s a fun selection of outtakes over the end credits. Nothing complicated, nothing over the top. Just a liberal sprinkling of funny stuff. Unashamedly funny stuff. It feels, and it shouldn’t, really quite refreshing. This basically sets the stage for a road trip, and quite a baggy one. We’re The Millers tries to cram a lot in, from individual issues with each of the characters, a wronged drug lord and a fellow campervan family (led by the wonderful Nick Offerman, in totally scene-stealing form). And with all of this to resolve, and no surprises in how it does so, that does mean that the final third plods through an awful lot of work. But then, it also remembers to fuse in enough laughs, so that just when it’s all beginning to feel a little bit tiring, We’re The Millers does something to get your attention (we’re not talking about Jennifer Aniston’s well-publicised on-screen striptease either). Of particular merit is Will Poulter, who’s not used as much as we’d like, but his mix of gleeful, nerdy innocence is brilliant, and really very funny. Sudeikis is an excellent lead for the ensemble too, happily convincing you that he’s covered in shades of grey, even though he’s a man keen to ultimately do the right thing. We’re The Millers is out in the UK on the 23rd August. Follow our Twitter feed for faster news and bad jokes right here. And be our Facebook chum here.
