U.K. 'Couples Retreat' Poster Omits a Couple. Guess Which One?
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy, Movie Marketing, Posters
Couples Retreat is about four couples, three white and one black. In the American poster for the film, all eight stars' pictures and names are shown. In the U.K. poster, however, one couple is omitted. Any guesses which one? The black one, obviously, or else this wouldn't be a story.
Yep, Faizon Love and Kali Hawk are missing from the poster used in the U.K. As reported by London's Daily Mail, Universal Pictures says they just wanted to "simplify" the poster for foreign release, to focus on "actors who are most recognizable in international markets." Nonetheless, after getting complaints about racism from British viewers, the studio has apologized and scrapped plans to use the revised poster in other countries.
I feel a little sympathy for Universal here. It's certainly true that Love and Hawk are less famous in other countries than they are in the United States. (Heck, they're not that famous here, either.) Their characters are fourth in importance in the story; even in the American poster, they're all the way in the back. If you had to remove a couple from the poster, they'd be the logical choice.
Ah, but there's the problem -- why did Universal think they had to remove a couple? The poster with all eight characters did fine in America. Why change it? Do international audiences reject movies that appear to have too many characters? Is "clutter" a big complaint among British poster aficionados? If nothing else, someone at Universal should have realized that removing the black couple -- even if race had nothing to do with it -- would at least look sketchy. You'd think that as bad as the movie is, they'd be extra careful not to turn off any potential viewers with their marketing. Live and learn!
[Via Huffington Post.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-16-2009 @ 2:07PM
Scott Weinberg said...
Any explanation as to why they also removed their NAMES from the poster??
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11-16-2009 @ 2:18PM
Kevin said...
Ummm...the exact same reason they removed their images?
This was a silly PR move on Universals part, and clearly one they should have avoided, but any shouts of racism should be quickly silenced by those of us with a brain. Their roles in the movie were as small bit characters. They're not major players in the plot and I see no problem with excuding them (hell, the yoga instructor and guitar hero playing resort manager were as crucial to the plot). Its just a dumb PR move is all.
11-16-2009 @ 2:19PM
DAVID F said...
I agree, why remove the names? Too much word clutter as well? Weird. Also, why give Malin Akerman a suitcase in the water....huh!?!?
11-16-2009 @ 2:35PM
jim said...
Important note: they were not "removed", the posters are 2 different photos.
At some point one photo was choosen over another - still a question of why the switch... Different target market in US v UK? Different demographic buys tickets in US v UK?...
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11-16-2009 @ 2:51PM
Dova said...
The posters are photoshopped images not different photographs, all characters are standing in front of a green screen and then transposed in water, in front of scenic locations.
So yes, they were removed, it's not a matter of one photo over another.
As for why, just look at how well films with black actors in the lead role do over seas. America gets a lot of flak for being racist, but the results you get from that little thought experiment will show you just how progressive things really are here.
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11-16-2009 @ 4:09PM
John said...
Note to Universal: I'm not sure the movie can be fixed by rearranging the poster.
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11-16-2009 @ 7:38PM
rle4lunch said...
if the article wouldn't have come from the huffington post I probably would've read it. But alas, it is from that poor excuse for a news outlet.
Its still screwed up. But looking at 300 pound man on a beach isn't too appealing either. I doubt if Kevin James was in this movie that his lard ass would be included on the front either, but since the dude was black, there was a stink about it.
The UK is supposed to be so much more 'progressive' (gag, what a terrible word), and free, but this seems a little ridiculous. Whatever.
Who cares? Really?
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11-17-2009 @ 12:43AM
Violet said...
I find it quite ludicrous that Universal decided to do this. I mean, why remove any couple? And yes, I agree that this was due in part to racism. I'm not saying that Universal intentionally acted racist toward blacks, but they removed them with the intention that white audiences wouldn't have to know that a black couple was in the movie. If you didn't want the black couple in the movie, then you should not have cast them. And to the people crying out that "everything is not racist" I think everyone is deeply aware of that. But let's assume that three of the four couples were black, and this movie was showing in say, South America, or a Caribbean nation, and the ONLY white couple was removed, shouldn't white people be offended? I think so. Shouldn't they have a right to say, "Of all the people removed, why did you have to remove the white couple?" I believe so. I would. I think that people really need to start looking at things from other people's perspectives. Step out of your "skin" for a moment, and think about it.
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11-17-2009 @ 1:02PM
Kevin said...
If the white couple had the smallest part in the movie and were little known actors compared to the other stars than no, as a white person I would not have a right to be offended. It would merely be a tactical decision that is devoid of the racial overtones you are trying to insert into it.
11-17-2009 @ 2:59AM
Lucy said...
I'm an African-American living in Europe. I've been here for a while and I can assure you that MOST of the cast are unknowns in most European countries (save Vince Vaughan and Kristen Davis).
It was a dumb move by Universal and the effort they're making to tie it to a sound business tactic is even more ridiculous. There is a huge population of Afro-Caribbeans in the UK. Seeing black folks on a poster would have helped to bring more of them to the theaters.
Reply
11-24-2009 @ 12:34PM
Karl said...
The original poster just didn't look nice, .......
anyone realize that from a design perspective and not a social perspective?
Reply