WE'RE THE MILLERS (2013)

Summary:

David Clark, a small-time pot dealer in Denver, finds his life upended when his stash and money are stolen, leaving him in deep debt to his ruthless supplier, Brad Gurdlinger. To clear his name and avoid severe repercussions, Brad forces David to smuggle a "smidge" of marijuana – which turns out to be an enormous amount – from Mexico. Realizing that a lone man driving an RV packed with drugs would be highly suspicious at the border, David devises an audacious plan: create a fake, wholesome family to pose as vacationers.

He enlists his cynical stripper neighbor, Rose O'Reilly, to act as his wife; Kenny, a naive and socially awkward virgin living in his apartment building, as his son; and Casey, a tough runaway punk girl, as his daughter. The makeshift "Millers" embark on a chaotic and hilarious road trip across the border, encountering a series of escalating mishaps, close calls with dangerous drug cartels, and an uncomfortably friendly DEA agent and his family, all while struggling to maintain their elaborate charade and smuggle their illicit cargo back into the United States.

Keywords: We're the Millers, 2013, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts, Will Poulter, Road Trip, Comedy, Crime, Drug Smuggling, Fake Family.

Plot:

The film opens introducing David Clark, a small-time marijuana dealer in Denver, Colorado. David lives a relatively isolated life, preferring to keep personal connections at arm's length, even with his quirky neighbors: Rose O'Reilly, a stripper struggling to make ends meet, and Kenny Rossmore, a socially awkward, naive teenager who lives in the same apartment complex. David's routine is disrupted when he witnesses Kenny attempting to protect Casey Mathis, a runaway punk girl, from a group of street thugs. Despite David's general disinterest in others, he reluctantly intervenes. In the ensuing chaos, the thugs not only beat David but also steal his hidden stash of marijuana and all his cash.

This incident leaves David in a precarious financial situation, owing a significant sum to his flamboyant and ruthless supplier, Brad Gurdlinger. Brad, living a life of extravagant luxury, offers David a terrifying ultimatum: either smuggle a "smidge" of marijuana from Mexico for him, or face dire consequences. David, initially resistant, has no choice but to accept. He soon realizes that attempting to cross the Mexican border alone in an RV with a large quantity of drugs would be an immediate red flag for customs. He concocts a desperate plan: create a fake, quintessential American family – the "Millers" – to appear as innocuous tourists on a wholesome RV vacation.

David first approaches Rose, his cynical stripper neighbor, offering her a substantial cut of the profits if she poses as his wife. Rose, desperate for money to escape her current life, reluctantly agrees. Next, they recruit Kenny, promising him a share and an exciting adventure, which the sheltered teenager eagerly accepts. Finally, they convince Casey, the runaway, to join as their daughter, appealing to her need for money and a temporary escape from her circumstances. The four disparate individuals, now united by a shared lie and a common goal, set off in a rented RV, immediately establishing their dysfunctional dynamic. David is gruff and controlling, Rose is sarcastic and world-weary, Kenny is incredibly naive and prone to awkwardness, and Casey is rebellious and constantly at odds with her new "family."

Their journey to Mexico is fraught with initial tension and comedic arguments as they attempt to embody their roles. At the Mexican border, David's attempt to bribe a guard nearly exposes their charade. Rose, however, quickly steps in, using her stripper skills and charm to flirt with the guard, successfully distracting him and allowing them to pass through. Once in Mexico, they meet Pablo Chacon, the drug supplier, who turns out to be far more intimidating and dangerous than Brad had let on. Chacon loads their RV with an astonishingly large quantity of marijuana – far more than the "smidge" David was promised – filling every available space in the vehicle. The sheer volume of the drugs amplifies the risk and the Millers' apprehension.

The return trip becomes a chaotic odyssey of escalating comedic and dangerous encounters. They repeatedly run into the Fitzgerald family – Don, his wife Edie, and their daughter Melissa – a genuinely wholesome and overly friendly American family on their own RV vacation. The Fitzgeralds' persistent attempts to bond with the Millers create numerous awkward and hilarious situations, especially since Don Fitzgerald is, unbeknownst to the Millers, a DEA agent. During one such encounter, their RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere. While David and Kenny attempt to fix it, Rose and Casey share a rare moment of genuine connection. The RV is eventually repaired, but soon after, Kenny is bitten by a tarantula, causing his testicles to swell to an alarming size. They rush him to a clinic, enduring an excruciatingly embarrassing visit to a doctor.

The situation takes a perilous turn when Pablo Chacon realizes the Millers are not professional drug runners and dispatches his heavily armed men to retrieve the drugs. The Millers are subjected to a high-speed chase through the Mexican desert, narrowly escaping Chacon's cartel by driving erratically and using their RV as a makeshift shield. Later, in a moment of desperation for cash or a distraction, Rose performs an impromptu, highly suggestive striptease at a truck stop, further highlighting the bizarre and unconventional nature of their "family." The truth about their fake identities and their illicit cargo eventually comes out during a heated argument among the Millers, inadvertently overheard by the Fitzgeralds. Don Fitzgerald, though initially shocked, begins to piece together the puzzle but does not immediately reveal his own identity as a DEA agent.

The Millers are eventually cornered by Chacon's men, captured, tied up, and taken to Chacon's compound, where their lives are threatened. Just as Chacon is about to execute them, the Fitzgeralds unexpectedly arrive, having tracked the Millers down. Don Fitzgerald, revealing himself as a DEA agent, calls for backup, and a chaotic shootout erupts between Chacon's cartel and the arriving DEA agents. Amidst the pandemonium, the Millers manage to escape with the RV and the drugs, leaving Chacon and his men to deal with the DEA. They make it back to the U.S. and arrange to meet Brad Gurdlinger. However, Brad attempts to double-cross David, having already made a deal with Chacon to cut David out and steal the drugs for himself. Before Brad can execute his betrayal, the DEA, tipped off by Don Fitzgerald, arrives and arrests Brad.

The Millers are taken into custody, but Don Fitzgerald vouches for their coerced involvement, explaining their predicament to his superiors. They are offered a deal: testify against Brad and Chacon in exchange for witness protection. The film concludes with the "Millers" living together under witness protection in a suburban neighborhood. Despite their initial dysfunction, they have genuinely bonded and formed an unconventional but loving family unit. David and Rose have developed romantic feelings, Kenny has gained confidence and a sense of belonging, and Casey has found stability and affection. The final scene shows them happily watering their garden, which, in a humorous twist, is filled with their own cultivated marijuana plants, suggesting that while their lives have changed, some habits die hard, and their new, quirky family is here to stay.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Jason Sudeikis as David Clark
• Jennifer Aniston as Sarah "Rose" O'Reilly
• Emma Roberts as Casey Mathis
• Will Poulter as Kenny Rossmore
• Ed Helms as Brad Gurdlinger
• Nick Offerman as Don Fitzgerald
• Kathryn Hahn as Edie Fitzgerald
• Molly C. Quinn as Melissa Fitzgerald
• Luis Guzmán as Pablo Chacon

Crew:

• Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
• Writers: Bob Fisher, Steve Faber, Sean Anders, John Morris
• Producer: Vincent Newman
• Music by: Ludwig Göransson, Theodore Shapiro
• Cinematography: Barry Peterson
• Editor: Mike Sale

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: August 7, 2013
• Language: English, Spanish
• Genre: Comedy, Crime
• Running Time: 110 minutes (Theatrical Cut), 112 minutes (Extended Cut)
• Accolades: MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts, and Will Poulter), Teen Choice Award for Choice Summer Movie Star: Female (Jennifer Aniston), Teen Choice Award for Choice Breakout Star (Will Poulter)