There's something deeply satisfying knowing that this Jennifer Aniston film bombed massively at the box office. The irony, of course, is that it just so happens to be one of her most tolerable performances to date.

With its release for the home market, it's looking to claw back some of its heavy loss. Good luck with that. It won't be helped by the fact it declares "from the director of Role Models" on the box. It would probably stand a better a chance if it distanced itself from that particular car crash; after all, would anyone knowingly pay to see a Seann William Scott film? Luckily for all concerned, he doesn't make an appearance in this film.

Just like everywhere else on the planet, New York City is feeling the economic pinch. It's not stopping couple George (Paul Rudd) and Linda (Aniston) from living their dream however. They just have enough money to buy a property the size of a postage stamp in their favourite part of the city.

It's not great timing though as the very next day George loses his job, and with Linda not having a job of her own either, the pair find ownership of their brand new apartment a fleeting experience.

With no other plans on the table, they have to resort to staying with George's obnoxious brother Rick (Ken Marino) in some back of beyond locale in Georgia.

Spending far too many hours on the road, they decide to pull in and rest up for the night. This leads them to a peculiar B&B known as Elysium. But Elysium is no ordinary B&B; it is a hippy commune where a bunch of well-meaning off -the-gridders go about their business without a care in the world. Although initially freaked out by the inhabitants and their way of life, George and Linda slowly but surely come around to the idea that you can do a lot worse than live in a commune.

You know Rachel, I only slept with Phoebe so I could get closer to you. Now that's friendship for you...

Quite possibly where this film works better than other Aniston films is that it's more of a collective effort; Aniston doesn't have to carry the film, merely participate in it. That will sound an immediate improvement to most already.

What the film lacks though is a story. But to be fair, it doesn't really need one. It's just an excuse to have a collection of scenes that enable a number of cast members to let loose and have some fun. It doesn't always work – in fact, the majority of the film isn't funny – and yet it's one of those films that will have you smirking occasionally in spite of your better judgement.

And the fact that the film flopped probably won't concern Aniston that much, as it's where she met her current partner Justin Theroux (cousin to Brit Louis), who plays hippy Seth. She also got to work with Paul Rudd, her co-star in 1998's The Object of My Affection; it's also the closest thing to a Friends reunion there'll ever be, with Rudd having played Phoebe's main squeeze on the show for a number of years.

It also happens to be part of the Judd Apatow juggernaut of fun, as it's yet another comedy he's produced. In terms of his canon of work, it probably falls somewhere in the middle; it's certainly less grating than The Five-Year Engagement which he also produced.

It may lack direction, but it does contain a curiously cheeky charm that just might win you over. Which, as we all know, is no mean feat for an Aniston flick.