To no one’s surprise, filming Couples Retreat in Bora Bora doesn’t compare to the harsh winters of Toronto.

“It’s not really comparable, no,” admits Malin Akerman from her downtown Toronto hotel room. “Bora Bora was a lot warmer and instead of snow on the ground, we had blue water and it was paradise. It was incredible.”

But the idyllic setting of Couples Retreat wasn’t the only draw for the Torontonian actress, who jumped at the chance to work with hilarious stars like Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell. The film, which comes out on DVD Friday, follows four couples who travel to the tropics for couples counseling, only to be caught off guard by the resort’s unorthodox methods – a set up that provides plenty of opportunity for improvisation.

“You look at the cast and you go, ‘Please. I would do that anywhere in the world,’” Malin adds. “The thing that I love about that, working with people who are a few steps ahead, it just ups your game. I always love having a challenge, and you are playing with the big guys.”

And the film wasn’t without other challenges, either: the 31-year-old actress admits she lost it a little bit when she had to swim with lemon sharks.

“When we went out to do that, our hearts were beating triple time,” Akerman remembers. “But once you get in there, it’s calm and beautiful, and sharks are beautiful, beautiful animals. And they’re more scared of you than you are of them – which, of course, you only learn once you’re in the water. But beforehand, I was freaking out, for sure.”

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The release date for the DVD and Blu-ray release of “Couples Retreat” is Tuesday, February 09, 2010!

The full specs have yet to be announced, but according to the DVD Active, there will be an alternate ending on both the DVD and BD. Exclusive to the Blu-ray version will be a digital copy of the film…

Malin Akerman has said that her new film Couples Retreat is more realistic than other movies about relationships.

The actress told Parade that the comedy was unusual in that it showed the sides both of men and women rather than one or the other.

Akerman said: “The one thing that drew me to the script from the beginning was that it was about couples and real relationships, which you don’t usually see in movies.

“Usually, it’s the guys’ club, or you have all the women together, like in Sex And The City.”

She added: “I know people are always fascinated with Hollywood relationships where there does seem to be a lot of brief encounters.

“You see stars who get married two weeks after they meet, which, of course, is going to end up most likely in a divorce. I’d say maybe 2% of the time you’ll end up having a fabulous, long-lived relationship. So you have to be careful and not just fall into something.”

Earlier this year, Akerman told DS that she was happy to be “one of the guys” in the primarily male cast of superhero movie Watchmen.

From Digital Spy

The couples in Couples Retreat are torn between their exotic Tahitian location and their real need to fix their marriages. So too were the actors in Couples Retreat. Malin Akerman plays Vince Vaughn’s wife, and she had to focus on multiple takes and coverage when she really wanted to hang out by the beach.

Malin Akerman on a Couples Retreat

“Obviously, you can’t really call it work when you’re there,” she said. “It’s just an amazing vacation. Between every take, you just look out and you go, ‘Wow, we are in paradise.’ Of course, we did get a lot of work done, and it was supremely enjoyable. We had such a great cast. It was such a great way to start a film. It was 3 ½ weeks in Bora Bora. Anytime you travel, the cast and crew gets to hang out, so you really get to know each other well, which was a nice base for this film, especially, because we’re all couples who know each other. We’re supposed to be good friends. So, we all ended up hanging out and having dinners together. It was fantastic.”

The group headed by Vaughn, but also including Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman and Faizon Love, welcomes improvisation. That includes any costar, so Akerman was encouraged to contribute. “It was actually a really nice experience because it was so collaborative and everyone was so open to taking ideas. It just felt like a team effort, which is nice for us, who didn’t write the script, because we were allowed to have a voice. It’s nice to come in and go, ‘Well, I don’t know if she would really say this,’ and Vince would go, ‘What do you think she would say? What would she do in this situation?’ It was just about flushing it out and trying to make it as three-dimensional and real as possible, which is always nice. You don’t always get that opportunity. It was a really great experience, in that sense.”

After playing the sexpot of Watchmen, The Heartbreak Kid and Entourage, Akerman plays a mom for the first time in Couples Retreat. Don’t worry, she’s still a MILF.

“I grew up. It was a lot of fun to do. I am 31. I could be a mother of two, no problem. It’s always fun to do [different things]. I’m always intrigued by any roles that are different from the last. It’s nice to exercise all your muscles. I was more attracted just to the script and the dynamics of everyone, and then I went, ‘Wow, she’s got two kids. That’s kind of cool.’ I am the oldest of four siblings, so I’ve had a lot of experience in raising kids. It wasn’t completely foreign to me, but it was definitely a huge difference, in going from action hero to mom, which is also a type of hero.”

Plus, after the year-long shoot that was Watchmen, Couples Retreat would have been a vacation even if it shot in sound stages. “Any movie is always a challenge, just because it’s a new character and you never know. You always want to make it as truthful as possible, which is sometimes hard because you’re always faced with new situations. But, at the bottom of this film, it’s all about relationships, and everyone in life has some sort of relationship, whether it’s with your family, your friends or someone you love. It wasn’t as difficult, as far as trying to relate to what you’re saying or what it would be like if you’re husband wasn’t listening to you, ‘cause that does happen in real life. You want to snap him into the reality. I’m always nervous going to set, no matter what. No matter how many months into it, I’m always nervous and excited, even though it’s a good nervous. There was a lot of improv as well, which I find exciting, but you just want to make it as good as possible. The challenge is always where you go, ‘Okay, how can we heighten this and make it the best scene ever?’ Every day is that challenge. It’s not something specific.”

Couples Retreat is out in theaters now.

From CanMag

She was the object of Ben Stiller’s desire in “The Heartbreak Kid.”

She was the object of Dr. Manhattan’s desire in “Watchmen.”

And she was the object of a lot of people’s desires in her infamous threesome scene in a 2006 episode of HBO’s “Entourage.”

All things considered, one wonders how the tall, blond Malin Akerman got cast as the quiet suburban housewife with the stable marriage in the new comedy “Couples Retreat,” which opens Friday?

That was the first of many burning questions we asked during a recent chat at the Four Seasons hotel in Los Angeles.

In the new film, which was written by Jon Favreau of “Swingers” fame, Akerman plays Vince Vaughn’s wife. They are among four couples who embark on what they think is an island vacation, but turns into an extended and unconventional marriage counseling session.

Akerman, 31, was born in Sweden but her parents moved the family to Toronto when she was 2. She began modeling and appearing in commercials when she was 5. At 17, she won a Ford Model Search, and later dropped out of college to pursue an acting career in Los Angeles.

In addition to her acting, she fronts a band called Petalstones, which includes her husband of two years, Italian drummer Roberto Zincone.

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: I’ve got to be honest with you. If I were to read the description of your soccer-mom character in “Couples Retreat,” the actress Malin Akerman doesn’t immediately come to mind.

MALIN AKERMAN (laughs): After “The Heartbreak Kid,” you didn’t think of me?

Q. Not to mention the ménage-a-trois bedroom scene on “Entourage.”

A. Oh yeah, that too.

Q. And the skin-tight leather outfit as Silk Spectre II in “Watchmen”?

A. Hmmm.

Q. And the flirtatious sister in “27 Dresses”?

A. I get it. I usually play wild women.

Q. It’s just that you’re known for these characters, and I was wondering if you were intentionally trying to show a different side with this movie?

A. Not really. They (the producers) said that they always wanted me for this role. And I appreciate their faith in me. But I don’t think anyone really knows who Malin Akerman is. Is she the “Heartbreak Kid” girl or is she the girl in “Couples Retreat”?

Q. Good question. Who is the real Malin Akerman?

A. I’m pretty much down-to-Earth. I’m pretty calm. I’m married.

Q. To a crazy Italian drummer.

A. He’s not a crazy drummer. Our marriage is not what people assume because I’m an actress and he’s a musician. We stay home at night, and I cook dinner. My husband does session work so he’s home a lot. He doesn’t have crazy fans following him around. It’s a pretty calm life.

Q. But we’ve seen your films and your Maxim photo spread. Who’s that Malin?

A. That’s my alter-ego movie person.

Q. And what is she really like?

A. I’m still trying to figure that out. But that’s why I love this business. I can play all the different sides of me. Films are like my therapy.

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LAist recently sat down with Malin Akerman, one of the stars of the upcoming comedy Couples Retreat. She opened up to us about the other half of her real life couple and shared one of the ways she keeps her marriage strong even when she can’t find the time to retreat to a tropical paradise.

LAist: You’ve been in quite a few big comedies. In The Heartbreak Kid with Ben Stiller you were not so much a loveable character…

Malin: Nope. (laughs)

LAist: And you were Tess, the crazy, selfish sister in 27 Dresses. You’ve played some rather wicked yet hilarious people.

Malin: A lot of times when you have a Leading Lady role, which is not to say that’s not something I want to do, I really want to do a leading role someday, but a lot of times the sidekicks and the costars are always the most quirky characters and they are always the most fun to play.

LAist: Your new film Couples Retreat certainly has some quirky characters. What would you like to tell us about the movie?

Malin: Um, go see it! I think it’s just one of those films that everyone can relate to in one way or another. Anyone who is in a relationship or has been in a relationship, you’re going to be able to identify with one or another of these couples. I hope everyone enjoys it.

LAist: How was it working on this film? I mean Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn together on set, how was that?

Malin: It was amazing. It’s one of those things where I’ve been watching them for many years now and all of a sudden, to be on set with people you idolize, it’s a pretty phenomenal feeling. And to watch them go off, you know they’ve known each other for so long they’re fabulous when they just start riffing off each other, a lot of improv ensues. They’re just hilarious together, and I mean all of them are. Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, they’re all just incredible comedians. I always think of a coach telling me, I used to be on the track and field team, and he goes, “Never practice with someone who’s slower than you, always practice with the runners who are quicker because then you’re going to speed up your time.” And that’s sort of how I feel whenever I get the opportunity to work with people who are so immersed it their business and they’ve done it a long time, you learn so much just by watching them.

LAist: What was your favorite part to shoot?

Malin: I have to say that my most memorable day was going swimming with the sharks. I think that was pretty spectacular. In one day we went swimming with stingrays and sharks. It was an unforgettable moment and an unforgettable day in my life. I’ll remember it forever.

LAist: So your husband in this movie is Vince Vaughn.

Malin: Yes, indeed. The tallest man alive.

LAist: I can imagine! Did you have to wear really high heels?

Malin: Well it was hard because we were on a vacation, so you wear flip flops so I had sort of platform flip flops, and I’m not a short person, you know, I’m still 5’9”, but we added to that with the shoes so it didn’t look like too much of a height difference.

LAist: You also work with Kristin Davis on this movie. Were you a fan of Sex and the City?

Malin: You know, I’m not a big TV watcher, I mean I’ve seen a few episodes and I saw the movie and think it’s great, but, no, I never really followed it when it was on.

LAist: I can’t imagine shooting a movie with her and not feeling like I was hanging out with Charlotte.

Malin: No, exactly! My stepmother came to set and she’s a huge Sex and the City freak so when she saw Kristin Davis, she almost fainted. She came all the way from Sweden, so coming to Hollywood and seeing Charlotte from Sex and the City who she’s been watching for the past ten years… she couldn’t even breathe. So I understand when you are a big, major fan of something, that is the reaction.

LAist: Have you ever had one of those moments since you’ve been in Hollywood?

Malin: Um, yes! All the time. (laughs) There are so many people. I am a big music fan and I was at the Cannes Film Festival just recently and I happened to brush shoulders with Mick Jagger and I almost fainted. I’m a huge Mick Jagger fan and my husband wanted to touch my shoulder afterwards. He was like, “I can’t believe your shoulder touched Mick Jagger!” So we’re a bit freaky about musicians, for sure.

LAist: You two have been married for about two years now. How did you meet your husband?

Malin: We were in a band together. He was the drummer and I was the attempted singer, and listen, we were just drawn to each other. I mean you look back behind you and see this gorgeous Italian man beating on some drums… It’s so sexy. I was hooked right away and now, six years later, we’re still together and now married.

LAist: Is your husband still a musician? Is he still performing?

Malin: Yeah, he is. He’s a session player. He does a lot of studio recordings and he works with artists, sort of new and upcoming artists, here in LA and does some shows around here. But yeah, he’s definitely still doing the music thing.

LAist: Do you ever get to go be groupie for your hubby?

Malin: Absolutely! Are you kidding me, that’s my favorite thing to do is go watch him bang on those drums. (laughs) It’s a good way to keep the relationship strong.

LAist: Absolutely. I was talking to one of my girlfriends the other day, her husband is a drummer as well, and she said, “I’m not so much groupie as roadie. I’m breaking down equipment and loading things into the car…”

Malin: Right! But then once you see the show you’re just like, “Ahhh.” I mean, I don’t know about you, but I just think musicians are so attractive. When they just let loose on stage I think it’s one of the most attractive things in the world, so I’m happy to be a roadie, too.

LAist: Have you and your husband ever done anything like a couples retreat?

Malin: No, we haven’t actually. Our thing is we have a lot of couples, a lot of friends who come over for dinner, that’s our big thing. My husband’s a great cook, so we do a lot of dinners, that’s our favorite thing to do with our friends. It’s almost too difficult to coordinate with two or three couples to have the same vacation time. Everyone’s always so busy and everyone’s schedules are so different, but we have a group now and we’ve been talking about it seriously like, “Guys, we have to rent a villa in Tuscany!” This is like our dream vacation with our friends, you know, because obviously it’s so much cheaper and you just rent a place together and bring all your friends and just hang out there for a week or something. It would be an awesome vacation.

From LAist

An actor’s career is more than just the sum of their most memorable catch-phrases, but that’s sometimes the best they can hope for. Ask the typical movie nerd what comes to mind when they think of Al Pacino, and nine out of ten of them will yell back in a regrettable Cuban accent, “Say hello to my little friend!” Nowhere is this more true than in comedy. Steve Martin could win a dozen Oscars and he’ll still be remembered as the guy who says “Excuuuuuuuse me.” Mike Myers will be asking the rhetorical question “Do I make you horny?” six nights a week on the inevitable Indian casino tour of his future. And Steve Carell, long after The Office is just a distant memory, will never stop being asked to repeat “That’s what she said” like a comedy parrot.

But consider poor Malin Akerman. Her career is still in its infancy, and yet it could be argued that she’s already stuck with the catch-phrase that will follow her forever: “Cock me.” That’s right, “cock me.” When she first uttered this chestnut of inappropriateness, during a sex scene with Ben Stiller in the Farrelly brothers’ 2007 comedy The Heartbreak Kid, it didn’t seem like the sort of thing that had legs. But two years later, it’s still the two words most movie audiences associate with her. Despite appearing in mainstream flicks as diverse as 27 Dresses and Watchmen, if you ask the average person if they recognize the name Malin Akerman, most will respond with, “Oh, you mean the blonde girl who screamed ‘cock me’ to Ben Stiller?”

I called Akerman to ask about her new ensemble comedy, Couples Retreat (which opens nationwide today), and I’ll admit I was anticipating the worst. The ability to repeat funny lines written for you by other people does not automatically mean you have a personality. But she was unflappable and quick-witted and hilariously dirty. When describing how fans would stare at her at ComiCon, she went off on an inspired rant about her need for clarity in their creepiness. “Is that a ‘I loved you in Watchman’ kinda stare,” she wondered aloud. “Or a ‘I want to murder you, cut off your hair as a souvenir and bury you in my crawlspace’ stare? Just let me know up front, that’s all I’m asking.” How do you not fall in love with a woman who can make off-the-cuff jokes about being murdered by comic book fanboys?

Eric Spitznagel: In Couples Retreat, your husband is played by Vince Vaughn, who is freakin’ huge. Did it ever feel like you were acting with a golem?

Malin Akerman: He is absolutely gigantic. He’s like six-five, and I’m only five-eight. The height difference was pretty ridiculous. I’m usually asked not to wear heels in my movies. But this time, to make our relationship look even remotely believable, they had to boost me up by a foot or two. But we were on an island, so obviously heels weren’t an option. For most of our scenes, I was wearing platform flip-flops.

Because otherwise you’d be emoting towards his stomach?

(Laughs.) Yeah, exactly. It’s just easier to act with somebody if it’s eye-to-eye. Or chin-to-eye, which was as far as we got, honestly. It’s better than having to focus on the tummy area.

Does Vince still smell like Jennifer Aniston’s sadness?

(Laughs.) Aw, come on! That’s not nice. No, I can assure you that he doesn’t smell like sadness at all. He smells like… new-found fiancée love.

Is it true that Couple’s Retreat is getting a PG-13 rating?

I know as much as you do. But the last I heard, that’s gonna be our rating. And I think it’s great. I want everybody to be able to see it.

A lot of your fans are going to be disappointed with this movie’s flagrant lack of boobies.

Well, you gotta switch it up every now and then. You know what I mean? Sometimes you gotta make the husband happy. He’s been like (deep sigh), “So is there another crazy sex scene in this one, too?” And finally I can say, “Hey, babe! Guess what? No sex at all!” I like making the fans happy, but you also gotta remember to make your husband happy.

Why are you usually so comfortable doing nude scenes?

If it has a purpose in the film, I’m happy to do it. I won’t do it if it’s gratuitous. That’s not my thing. Especially when it’s comedy, it’s so much easier because you’re doing it for the laugh. It’s not like you’re gonna get all hot and heavy watching The Heartbreak Kid when Ben Stiller and me are going at it and I’m calling him a faggot and telling him to smack me and I’m peeing on his back.

Really? Speak for yourself.

(Laughs.) Okay, I wouldn’t get hot and heavy watching something like that.

Don’t judge me and my fantasies of peeing on Ben Stiller.

In a general sense, it’s more about the comedy than the sexuality of that moment. Also, I think it helps that I grew up in a Swedish culture with a Swedish family. It really isn’t that big of a deal over there. It’s not like people walk around naked or anything like that. But there are breasts on television. It’s just a normal part of what you see every day. So I grew up with a healthy view of sexuality and my body.

Everything I know about Sweden comes from those Swedish Erotica porn films from the 80s. Is that a pretty accurate reflection of your home country?

(Laughs.) Totally. Yeah. We’re like that all the time. Those movies are almost like a documentary.

So sex is the official Swedish currency and everybody looks like Seka?

Yeah, pretty much. You know what? You should head over there and find out. I’m just trying to encourage tourism in Sweden. But don’t give out my number if people get disappointed. I don’t want to get any calls like, “Where are all the horny platinum blondes?”

You had some great comic quotables in Heartbreak Kid, all of which are a little X-rated. Do you have a lot of fans running up to you on the street and saying, “Cock me?”

(Laughs.) More than I’d care to admit. I can tell right away when somebody recognizes me from that film, because their faces turn a nice shade of red. “Oh my god, you’re that girl! You’re the one who said ‘cock me’ to Ben Stiller!” There’s really no point in denying it. “Yep, that would be me. And wow, thanks so much for bringing that up when I’m standing here next to my brother and sister.”

It’s been said that life imitates art, and vice-versa. Have you, or anyone you’ve known, ever requested that a partner cock you?

It’s never happened to me, but I was curious if that line was derived from a true story. I will tell you that it was somebody on the Heartbreak Kid crew and he claims that a girl actually yelled “cock me” at his face while they were doing the deed.

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