Watch Marriage Retreat

Marriage Retreat is a 2011 romantic comedy movie directed by David Christiaan. The movie revolves around three couples who are struggling with their marriages and their decision to attend a marriage therapy retreat in hopes of saving their relationships. The lead cast of the movie comprises Jeff Fahey, David A.R. White, Anna Zielinski, Victoria Jackson, and Reggie Owens.

The opening sequence of the movie introduces us to the three couples. The first couple is Peter (David A.R. White) and Tracy (Anna Zielinski), who have been married for six years and are experiencing a rough patch due to communication issues. The second couple, Shane (Reggie Owens) and Denise (Victoria Jackson), have been married for over twenty years and are dealing with infidelity issues. Lastly, Mike (Jeff Fahey) and his wife, Justine, who have been together for twenty-six years, are struggling with the loss of their son which has led to emotional distance between them.

The couples, hoping to fix their problems, arrive at the marriage therapy retreat centre located in a forested area. The retreat is headed by a quirky therapist, Dr. Christopher, played by religious TV host, Jeff Probst. The retreat starts on an anxious note as the couples greet each other with a forced cheeriness, and it's clear that they are all dealing with problems in their relationships.

Dr. Christopher, known for his unconventional methods, asks the couples to participate in a series of tasks and workshops e.g. bungee jumping, and sharing their deepest secrets. The tasks are focussed on bringing the couples closer to each other and improving their communication.

The couples struggle with the tasks, revealing deep-seated issues in their marriages. Mike and Justine's issues come to the fore when they have an explosive fight during the task where they have to divulge their deepest fears. Shane and Denise, who have been keeping secrets from each other, also struggle with the truth.

The couples' struggles are highlighted in various workshops and counselling sessions, and they all try to work through their issues. Peter and Tracy learn that communication is key to having a successful marriage, while Mike and Justine learn that they need to accept and support each other.

The movie is filled with humour as well as some heart-wrenching moments. The cast delivers an excellent performance, especially Jeff Fahey, who as Mike, delivers a heartfelt depiction of a father dealing with the loss of his son.

Marriage Retreat is a movie that stresses the importance of communication and how it can make or break a relationship. The movie's underlying message is that with patience, love, and understanding, it's possible for couples to mend their relationships and move forward.

In conclusion, Marriage Retreat is an engaging and enjoyable movie that explores the intricacies of relationships and how couples can work through their issues. The movie delivers some essential life lessons, with great performances from the cast, making it a must-watch for fans of romantic comedies.

Marriage Retreat is a 2011 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2.