Q&A with Vince Vaughn

Q. How did Couples Retreat come together?

I make movies for people to enjoy, and I thought it would be fun to get a bunch of regular people and give each one of them a sort of problem. You know, they have these corporate retreats; so, I thought we could do it with couples. The big question is: What makes a relationship work?

Q. And to find that out you place four couples on an exotic island.

It’s kind of a mysterious place run by Jean Reno, who puts them through an obstacle course. That way we could have fun with those relatable problems we all have in our relationships and ultimately find hope and give some optimism.

Q. Did you know Jean Reno was this funny?

I knew he was talented! He is great in all the stuff I’ve seen him in, like The Professional. It was Peter Billingsley’s idea to cast him, but I quickly said yes to it. I think Jean is funny because he is so serious and committed to doing stuff that is crazy, and he does it with all this confidence.

Q. It must have been hard at times to keep a straight face around him and the rest of the cast.

Yes, and especially with John Michael Higgins, who plays our therapist, because he is so smart and great at improvising. He would always destroy me! Trying to keep a straight face while he was analysing Malin and I as a married couple was very tough.

Q. What was Malin Akerman like to work with?

Malin is such a terrific actress. I had seen her in The Heartbreak Kid and I thought her performance was so brave. I think she does a very good job at grounding this movie because her character is so relatable. You really root and care for Ronnie. I thought we had good chemistry, and the truth is that she is very easy going, low maintenance and considerate with other people - which makes her a great person to work with.

Q. How would you describe your character and his marriage?

I think Dave is someone who loves his wife and kids, but is under constant pressure to provide things for his family. And by putting them first in a way he has been putting his marriage last, because they have been so focused on all the things that have to be done that they haven’t really been having fun with each other. So, like a lot of people out there, he has to be careful he doesn’t forget the person he is in a relationship with. I believe the trip to this island is a good wake-up call for them.

Q. You wrote Couples Retreat with Dana Fox and Jon Favreau - who is married to Kristin Davis in the movie.

I met Jon in Rudy, and we have collaborated a lot since then. He is easy to improvise with because he is so funny and talented. But the interesting thing about Kristin is that you haven’t really seen her in a role like this before, as she is playing a little more of a promiscuous character. She is really good with comedy and timing, and I knew she would be great.

Q. Faizon Love forms a funny couple with the young Kali Hawk.

Faizon is such a genuine lovable guy who really owned his character, and his chemistry with Kali is great.

Q. And then you paired Kristen Bell up with Jason Bateman.

Kristen is a very good actress and I could see her as the type-A person she portrays, because she is so committed and lovely. And Jason Bateman is a tremendous actor who has great comedic timing. Like Peter Billingsley, he grew up in the business and is just a mega-talent. Jason makes everyone’s job easier and, on top of it all, he is just a great guy.

Q. You like to surround yourself with talented people.

Yes, because it elevates everything for sure, which is so important in relationship movies. In The Break-Up Jennifer Aniston and I were equal, and I also ping ponged back and forth with Isla Fisher in Wedding Crashers. I find relationships and the dynamic between two people to be funny, and not one person just talking to the other one. How we try to manipulate each other or are misunderstood is what makes good comedy.

Q. And the kids are great too!

You can’t stop those kids! You can be as funny as you want, but the moment you throw a cute kid in the scene it’s over, because it’s their scene. And Peter Billingsley, having been a child actor himself, really knew how to talk to them and what to get out of them.

Q. Couples Retreat marks the directorial debut of Peter Billingsley, a man you have known and worked with for years.

Peter is so smart and, as he grew up in the movie business, there is no aspect of filmmaking that he doesn’t understand. I have been collaborating with him for a long time and he is a good friend.

Q. How much improvising went on during the shoot?

We liked to try different things and see how we would react to them. I just love to try stuff and then figure out what makes sense.

Q. Why did you shoot the movie in Bora-Bora?

Because we wanted to find a place that was magical and exceptional that you hadn’t seen before. And it was so unbelievable! I grew up somewhere that was flat and cold that couldn’t be more opposite to Bora-Bora.

Q. Did you actually get to swim with sharks?

Yes, and I never thought I would do something like that because I was always afraid of the ocean. The fear is that – after seeing Jaws and those movies - the sharks are going to come after you, but luckily it’s not that way. I have to admit that at first it felt good to get past that experience, and then I felt comfortable and actually had some fun. I think that happens to all of us with stuff we don’t know until you start to get confident. And lets admit it; I didn’t want to be the guy that didn’t do it!

Q. Couples Retreat has many funny and outrageous moments. Which one was your favourite?

I don’t know, there are so many: when they walk in on Jon and he says he is putting lotion on; the scenes with the kids; and I love Carlos, who plays the yoga instructor.

Q. Carlos Ponce is hilarious!

He really is, and he created this larger than life personality that is just a very fun character.

Q. They say comedy is the toughest genre because you are never sure of what is going to work.

It’s so subjective, although I think I have had a good batting average in understanding common things that we all go through and in surrounding myself with people that are funny. But it’s also true that sometimes what you haven’t planned ends up being the funniest thing of all!

* Couples Retreat is currently on circuit. Enter here to win a Guitar Hero/Couples Retreat merchandise hamper.