Did anyone actually see Couples Retreat? I didn’t, but according to my research, the black couple played by Faizon Love and Kali Hawk, had roles that were featured as prominently as the other couples appearing in the movie. Then why did Universal Studios give them a big ol’ delete off the movie posters as they promote this film in the UK?
The studio claims their reason for the edit of the image and names of Love and Hawk was to “simplify” for the UK audience. You hear that, folks across the pond? Universal Studios thinks you can’t handle the visual stimulus of eight actors and their names on a movie poster. They think you need simplification. They are putting their act of racism on the shoulders of UK citizens. It’s your fault this happened. I hope your knickers are in a serious twist over this.
Movie critic Jason Solomons wrote: “We don’t cater much for the black cinema-going audience in this country, which is a great shame, so it seems strange that when there are black stars in a major feature film this fact isn’t promoted. And, in terms of business decisions, this seems a pretty counter-productive one.”
Not gonna lie….it looks better with only three couples. They should have taken blondie from the back out and put in the other two….
If the one that includes the black couple is the American one, I don’t think we have anything to congratulate ourselves about either. Sure, they are on there, but they are so far away you almost can’t see them.
I didn’t even see them until I read this. I didn’t think either of these had the couple on it. ha
Oh great, another attempt to use the ‘racist stick’ to hit us over our collective heads. Enough with the racist bullshit. We’ve got a fucking black president, every musician on the music charts are black and most of the highest paid athletes are black. For Christs sake, what more do the blamers want?
So then following your logic (which would require living in a state of denial), to rid the world of terrorism…1. Elect a Muslim president. 2. Mass purchasing of Middle Eastern music. 3. Highest paid athletes comprised of Taliban and Al-Qaeda operatives = No terrorism, right? Wow, maybe we could elect Magic Johnson as president and simultaneously wipe out HIV and racism!
Didn’t mean to post above comment anonymously.
I wouldn’t have admitted to have written the post that you claim. You’re high, right?
I’m confused.
Me too. I wasn’t aware that there was a set requirment that X number of non-white people must be on a movie poster. It’s not like they cut them out of the movie.
But… it’s the UK audience that they’re saying is racist, not the US audience. We’re the ones who can, apparently, handle having a black couple on a movie poster.
this one i’m actually going to give the benefit of the doubt.
not a native, but have lived in the uk for over 5 years. kali hawk and jean reno are not actors people follow here. it would make sense for the studio to cut out the lesser known actors and feature more prominently the ones with blockbuster recognition.
Well, they didn’t cut Jean Reno, did they? He’s not even on the poster (only his name, and that’s actually on both!). Btw, I think he’s just as big in Europe as in the US, maybe much bigger, because he’s French. So, that’s just no good excuse.
You just reinforced tootall’s theory, in my opinion. They didn’t cut Jean Reno because he will most likely draw European audiences to the cinema.
Oops, that was poorly constructed criticism. The first part of the comment is aimed at the mistake that Jean Reno was cut from the poster, which he wasn’t – his name is on both.
The second part is just about that he is very famous in Europe. But that actually had nothing to do with the posters or the deleted couple. Just a general fact :).
But I think it’s a little different with him being mentioned on both posters. He doesn’t seem to have that big a role (didn’t see the movie, so that’s only a guess) and is just an extra “treat”. The deleted couple seems to have a much bigger role than him in the movie…so therefore I find it odd that they got deleted. Famous or not.
God, it would be so nice to have an “Edit” button. Anyways, that post was from my…just clicked on submit a little bit too fast :).
To be honest, both posters are bad. I think it’s okay that one couple has the lead, but then all the other couples should be equal. Why is one couple so far in the background in the American poster? If they only wanna show three couples, then they should have made a movie about three couples.
And the international poster? Well, first of all, why would you advertise for a movie that way, if it’s actually misleading. I mean, they don’t just cut two people, by that they also cut their story line. Then, if cutting anyone, why these two? I’m pretty sure that we “simple Europeans” would have survived if they had chosen to cut Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell. The actors who “pull” in this movie are Kristen Davis, Vince Vaughn and Jean Reno.
But most imortant: How can you cut two of the lead actors. By picture and name. Why wouldn’t you want that they get the same credit as all the others? I’d be pissed of, if my name was deleted from my work. And: Isn’t it an oportunity to introduce them to a broader audience, make them more famous and through that earning more money with them with their next movie?
See, and I didn’t even get to talk about racism yet. But I guess, at least ignorance was definately a part in the decision making process….
I do not think this was conscious racist move. Most of the time random designers make these posters and they just want to put the big names in the front and save space or they will be whipped or fired. Who cares anyway? I don’t believe its racist, I am in fact offended by Vince Vaugh and Kristen Bell. Seriously how does these people keep getting movies? BLAH!
Where is this office that people are being whipped in…… and are they hiring?
Racism? Give me a break.
It’s obviously because all of the other mains are fairly big stars, whereas I don’t know who the other two are, really. It’s definitely a better way to focus the attention on the larger named stars. If they were racist at all, then they wouldn’t have had the couple in the in the first place! So seriously, I don’t think this was racially motivated.
Definitely agree. Just like how that one movie with Paris Hilton in it features her front and center even though she was in it for 5 minutes.
Its about who is going to draw audiences and bring in the most $.
Yes I was thinking the EXACT same thing. Well said too.
Firstly, go to IMDB and you will see that Faizon Love has made as many movies as Kristin Bell. It is racism, no matter how you want to deny it. It’s easy to besmirch the “Race Card” if you aren’t the race being affected. There are enough Blacks in Britain to have earned the cast members a place on the poster and possibly earn more money at the box office. Racism doesn’t have to be overt, much of it is ingrained so deeply in our culture it is unavoidable. But you know it when it is directed at your own community. Something Roofie clearly doesn’t have to deal with.
I think it is racist. And I saw the movie, and had no clue the black couple was even in it (based on the previews). In my opinion, it is sad that they were downplayed. Their roles were just as supporting as the other couples. I agree with the above poster that Kristen Bell and Vince Vaughn’s characters were really the ones with the pull. But this is the world we live in, brown skin is not appealing nor does it sell.
“Brown skin is not appealing nor does it sell?” Tell that to Oprah, Will Smith, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Kanye, Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Halle Berry, Chris Rock, Tyra Banks, Dave Chappelle, Tyler Perry, Jamie Foxx, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, and the Obamas too while you’re at it.
I’m not going to deny that racism does run rampant in our culture and even in supposedly “progressive” Hollywood. But I have never heard of the 2 black actors from Couples Retreat, and I know way too much about celebrities. I think people are reading a little too much into this.
Oh so we need things ‘simplifying’ do we? Well maybe we in the UK would be open to discovering new actors rather than have them cut out of the poster?! It just discounts their part in the film, white, black, asian, whatever actors.
The content of the movie itself has racial undertones! The way the black couple was portrayed was absolutely horrific and not funny at all. I’m not surprised that that same racism has manifested itself even in the movie poster.
I think there are bigger problems in the world than this poster.
Seriously, Racism is abd and it is not only against black people! Black people are racist too (obviously not all of them, like not all the white people are or latins). Why is people so self concious that they have to blame everything ont he skin color.
So they are not in the picture…. big deal…
Sorry I don’t write very good in English. I’m latin. I went to college in the US. My teacher referred to me as “what’s her name from Southamerica that can’t speak English.” I didn’t think he was racist. That’s all I’m saying :)
then how did you graduate college? what college did u attend? just asking…
y a mi si me parece medio racista eso que dijo tu profesor, el esta ahi para ayudarte no para decir cosas hirientes en clase, aunque tu no lo tomes como un insulto a muchos si les pareceria asi.
Mercer University en Georgia. No me duele.
1) porque no estaba siendo “mean”
2) porque era la mejor alumana de mi clase
3) porque el RACISMO que ustedes dicen no se ve en un movie poster…. se ve en la calle y en el tratamiento hacia las personas. Imaginate que nos tengamos que preocupar por un poster! O que la gente que es oprimida por su color vengan a llorar por un poster.
You are from South America and you don’t even know that you are “LATINO”?
“Latins” are people from “Latin Europe” which is mainly Italy.
You sound more like an Idiot than anything else.
Pot, meet kettle.
There are Latin Americans and LAtin Europeans… you just said LATINO (that’s spanish)
And what is up with calling people idiots just because they express their point of view…
Actually, you are wrong, as she is female, she is a latina. Not a latino.
I’ve lived in the UK my whole life – and whilst I can’t say that I have heard of Love or Hawk… neither have I heard of Reno. I can only presume he’s known in mainland Europe?!
I have no idea why Universal would cut the black couple out of the poster. I know that some people have the idea of us Brits being a little stuffy or proper, but really – we do have black people in the UK! Indeed, we’re actually very racially diverse – for them to say we need ‘simplification’, quite frankly, offends me.
It’s a weak excuse for a silly thing to do.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000606/
He’s been in quite a few very good movies…American as well as many European (mainly French…). Léon was one of his best….
jean reno is my all time favorite actor. love him
I love how half of you make excuses for them. It is obviously racism. All four couples should have been featured or only the main one who is in the middle. No reason to cut one couple whose role was just as big as the other two couples featured in the back. Also, don’t kid yourself. Racism still exists and will probably always exist. Having a black president won’t change that.
I’m wondering if you would say that if they cut a couple of white actors out? What about if they cut the females out? Would that automatically be misogyny? Maybe they were cut because they were ugly?
Great. Us UK folk get tarred as racists when it’s the big fat cats at Universal that made the cockup? It’s a huge majority of us Brits that really don’t give a damn about race, especially young people who are doing an excellent job of embracing other cultures, especially thanks to music.
As a young person I can say we don’t want studios to cater especially to markets defined by race (“black cinema-going audience” quote above), but the idea that featuring a black couple in the advertising would somehow negatively effect the intake of the film (supposing that’s the reason for removal) is total bollocks.
I’m black and I hate all them white fuckers that are on the poster. I’d consider it an act of pride to not have to pose with those stupid assed crackers!
Haha, you are awesome.
Yeah, black racism towards whites is awesome. If we really want to abolish racism it has to be mutual. Duh.
Imagine if someone had posted “I’m WHITE and I hate all them BLACK fuckers that are on the poster. I’d consider it an act of pride to not have to pose with those stupid assed N**GERS!”. They would be crucified!
I’m white and I hate all them black fuckers that are on the poster. We are talking about “Snakes on a Plane”, right?
You’re not black, you’re a 15 year old whitebread with no life. If you were an actual black person you would wouldn’t know how to use punctuation. Ebonics doesn’t utilize it.
remove that *would*. Where are my glasses dammit.
Iz you a brotha? Ya sure rite like one.
Personally, I see it as they aren’t well known in comparison to the other cast members, Vince Vaughn, Kristen Bell, etc. Clearly Vince Vaughn and the other girl are the main characters and the others follow along.
The second post looks stupid having two of the people up front and so much bigger while the rest are in the back. Having three looks better, or if they would have all four not make it like the second poster.
I don’t see the poster as racist, I don’t see the movie as racist (I didn’t even see the movie itself) I think this is just another thing added to the list of things people want to make look racist to cause issues, America.
When I watch black casted movies, with the lack of white people, I could care less. I don’t see the big deal.
COULDN’T CARE LESS… not could. you are implying you do care. which i believe you didn’t intend to.
In Australia we have the same poster as the UK. I have seen the movie. The poster with only three couples looks so much more appealing. Not only that, in the movie, the black characters were minor in comparison, they were the minor comedy characters, there for light relief (rubbish characters though). They probably cut them due to him being fat/her ugly. Not because they’re black. The woman was only in half of it, a different black lady came in at the end.
Being English I can understand why Universal would think we wouldn’t be intelligent enough to appreciate the multi-racial factor of the poster or, indeed, be able to count more than six people at one time. I mean I’m sure Shakespeare and Stephen Hawkings would have the same problem. Now excuse me, I’m going to A&E – I seem to have answered the iron instead of the telephone.
The UK is a very racially diverse country, and I have never even heard a suggestion that we British are a racist people, I believe we are far from it. I do think that the poster looks better with fewer people on it, and if the black couple have the smallest storyline then it is logical for them to not be on the poster if you had to get rid of one couple. What I think is sad here is that the black couple have to be teamed up together and then the other three couples all have to be white, but I do find that an awful lot in American cinema and TV. Why should it be so shocking that a couple were of two different races?
Also Barack Obama is not black. He is mixed-race, just as much a white man as he is a black man. The best thing about the election of Obama is not that the American people elected a “black” man (which he is not), but rather that they managed to elect someone free from the trivial issue of race.
In America, Jim Crow laws stated that even one quarter of you were African descended then you are considered Negro. It stuck here and now Blacks in America think of it as a thing of pride that we claim all those marginalized by theyre skin color. Trust me, Barack may have a white mother, but in America and many other places he is a black man.
This just reminds me of a british doc i just saw on racism in the uk. there was a jk teacher who was convinced she wasnt racist but admitted that she was startled when a little black girl in her class got a scratch and her skin was pink underneath…………………… I personally found that hilarious. My point is that ppl who do not want to open their eyes to racism will never see it and it is simply a waste of time trying to force their eyes open. eventually we will all be some glorious asian hybrid.
and get good mileage too………..
doesn’t that just make her ignorant not racist?
http://www.movieline.com/2009/11/all-white-couples-retreat-posters-stir-outrage-apology-in-uk.php
I understand where this story is going and the most important issue is not being addressed- this was literally the worst movie I’ve seen all year! It doesn’t matter what color anyone is- terrible film- worse than Stepbrothers.