We're The Millers: A Hilariously Dysfunctional Family Road Trip You Won't Forget
What happens when a small-time pot dealer becomes a big-time drug smuggler? "We're the Millers" provides answers with laughter and absurdity. This 2013 comedy unites a dealer, a stripper, and unique teenagers into a fake family. Their mission? Haul a massive RV of marijuana across the border. Sounds disastrous? Absolutely! Sounds hilarious? Even more so.
Meet the Millers: Cast and Characters
Jennifer Aniston as Rose O'Reilly/Sarah
Jennifer Aniston, youthful at 44, rocked the stripper persona (with a half-wig!). As Rose, aka Sarah, she plays the hired 'mom' of this sham family. For her performance, she earned $5 million. Aniston prepared by swapping Hollywood fare for greens, veggies, and lean proteins. Kale, folks! Even pretending to be a stripper requires it!
- Role: Fake mom/stripper extraordinaire
- Age during filming: 44
- Salary: $5 million
- Preparation: Strict diet (kale included!)
- Fun Fact: Wore a "half-wig" for the role.
Jason Sudeikis as David Clark
Jason Sudeikis, known for roles in "Horrible Bosses," and "The Angry Birds Movie," plays David Clark. He is the street-level pot dealer who concocts this fake family scheme. Sudeikis brings life to hapless David, making audiences root for this underdog drug dealer, though probably they shouldn't.
- Role: Fake dad/small-time drug dealer
- Known for: "Horrible Bosses," "Downsizing," "Angry Birds Movie"
- Character: Desperate, yet resourceful.
Will Poulter as Kenny Rossmore
Will Poulter, with distinctive eyebrows, was 19 during filming. Even if you don't recall his name, his face is likely familiar. Poulter plays Kenny, the awkward 'son' of the fake family. He brings naiveté to the role, making Kenny both endearing and cringe-worthy. Honestly, we've all had our Kenny moments.
- Role: Fake son/awkward teenager
- Age during filming: 19
- Known for: Expressive eyebrows and diverse film roles
Kathryn Hahn as Edie Fitzgerald
Kathryn Hahn plays Edie Fitzgerald, a scene-stealing neighbor. While her role is short, she brings comedic brilliance to everything she touches. Expect her to be the nosy character that spices up the Millers' chaotic road trip. What's a road trip without quirky neighbors?
- Role: Nosy Neighbor, Edie Fitzgerald
- Known for: Being hilariously amazing everywhere
Crystal Nichol as Brad's Receptionist
Crystal Nichol plays Brad's Receptionist. Even minor roles contribute to the comedic tapestry of "We're the Millers." Every receptionist has a backstory, right?
- Role: Brad's Receptionist (Minor but present!)
Plot Unpacked: From Pot Dealing to RV Mayhem
The plot of "We're the Millers" is a chaotic ride from start to finish. It begins with David, our small-time pot dealer, who learns that good intentions can backfire spectacularly. He tries to help teenagers (classic mistake), gets mugged, and loses cash and stash. This puts him deep in debt with his supplier. To clear that debt, he must smuggle a "smidge" of marijuana from Mexico. A "smidge" that is RV-sized.
To execute this plan, David decides to create a fake family. Enter Rose, Kenny, and Casey (the 'daughter,' crucial to the plot but not mentioned). They pile into a massive RV and head south, posing as the perfect Miller family on vacation. What could go wrong? Everything! Expect drug cartels, awkward bonding moments, and close calls galore.
- Synopsis in a nutshell: Pot dealer creates fake family to smuggle drugs, hilarity ensues.
- The Mission: Drive an RV full of weed from Mexico to the US.
- Key Ingredient: A fake family that's anything but normal.
The Grand Finale: Ending Explained (Spoiler Alert!)
The ending of "We're the Millers" delivers satisfaction, even if slightly unbelievable. Agent Don arrests drug lord Chacón but surprisingly lets the Millers go due to law enforcement leniency. Maybe he was charmed by their dysfunction? David delivers drugs to the real bad guy, Gurdlinger, only to be double-crossed (surprise!). Fear not; David is one step ahead. He has ratted out Gurdlinger to the DEA, who swoops in for the arrest. Justice (kind of) is served as the fake Millers, who rather become a real family, ride into sunset with likely therapy sessions ahead.
- Ending Highlights: Drug lord arrested; Millers get away (mostly); bad guy busted thanks to David.
- The Twist: Fake family becomes a real-ish family.
- Moral of the story?: Crime doesn't pay, but fake families and road trips can be fun (and hilarious).
Reception: Is it Miller Time? (Critical and Otherwise)
So, is "We're the Millers" a good movie? Critics and audiences mostly agree it's an entertaining comedy, despite stretching believability. One review calls the Millers "hilariously dysfunctional and mostly entertaining." Another verdicts it's "an entertaining comedy with utterly ridiculous plots." If you seek high-brow art, skip this. But if you want laughs without deep thought for a couple of hours, then yes, it’s Miller time.
- Critical Consensus: Hilariously dysfunctional and entertaining.
- Audience Takeaway: Ridiculous plot but funny.
- Perfect for: A night of easy laughs.
Rated R for... Reasons
Don't let "family" in "We're the Millers" fool you; it's definitely not for kids. It's rated R for good reason. The rating cites "crude sexual content, pervasive language, drug material, and brief graphic nudity." All the good stuff, if over 17. So maybe keep little ones at home for this family road trip.
- Rating: R
- Reasons for Rating: Adult themes and language.
- Parental Guidance: Not for kids.
Filming Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
You wonder where the RV-driving mayhem unfolded? "We're the Millers" was primarily filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina, shooting over 40 days there. Thus if you are in Wilmington, you might stand on the same ground where the Millers "vacationed." Hopefully without the drug smuggling part.
- Primary Filming Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
- Filming Duration: Approximately 40 days
- Fun Fact: Visit the scene of comedy!
Sequel Status: Dead in the Water?
Sequel talk is inevitable when a movie succeeds. And "We're the Millers" achieved box office success. So naturally, talk of "We're the Millers 2?" emerged. Sadly, a sequel seems unlikely. Jennifer Aniston has confirmed its demise, mentioning it as a sequel desired but not happening. For now, it appears Miller's trip is a one-off affair. But hey! Never say never in Hollywood!
- Sequel Probability: Low to non-existent
- Jennifer Aniston's take: "There was talk about that," but it didn't happen.
- Hope for the future?: Stranger things happen!
Miscellaneous Miller Moments
While unrelated directly to "We're the Millers," there’s a mention of famous movie line: "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" from "Gone with the Wind." While classic, its relevance here is questionable. Perhaps it reminds us that even in comedies filled with drug smuggling and stripper moms, there's always room for classic movie trivia?
- Random Fact: "Frankly, my dear..." is a top movie quote.
- Relevance to "We're the Millers"?: Debatable, but fun trivia!
"We're the Millers" shows that sometimes dysfunctional families entertain best. If you're in the mood for a raucous comedy with heart buried under humor layers, buckle up! Join the Millers on their unforgettable illegal road trip.
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