Post by StevePulaski on Jul 26, 2011 13:39:06 GMT -5
Drew Barrymore and Justin Long.
Rating: ★★★½
Going the Distance is the story of two charismatic leads that struggle to maintain a healthy and functioning relationship while living at opposite ends of the country. This story can easily seemed played like a vintage guitar, but what matters when you have a cliche story is how we get to the outcome we know we will soon be faced with. Despite the cliches, Going the Distance comes off as fresh, funny, sexy, smart, and charming - all characteristics of a very well done romantic comedy.
I've mentioned before that when it comes to romantic comedies, I'm amused by pretty much anything. But this time, I was more than amused. I was consumed. Justin Long is easily on his way to becoming an actor who can be who he wants to be for any role. In a funny comedy like Accepted, in an unsettling horror film like Jeepers Creepers, and even as a wimpy dork in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story he comes out on top of his game. Even Taking Chances, a mediocre indie drama, was saved by his charming personality.
Drew Barrymore, once again, is great. She plays Erin and Long plays Garrett two adults who meet in a bar going through difficult points in their life. Erin has to move back to California in six weeks, while Garrett just went through a rough break up. They form a likable couple, until Erin informs Garret she must go back to school in California. Despite their plans to remain close friends, they can't help but try to make this relationship work. They try to go the distance.
Phone sex, video chats, text messaging, and many other methods of long distance communications are used in humorous, thoughtful, and romantic ways as this rom-com becomes less about cliches, and more about chemistry.
Garrett's friends played by Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis are hilarious, and sometimes extremely filthy as they try to guide him through the process of a long distance relationship, and try to give him tips and tricks to stay together.
What really works in this film are the jokes. Rarely does a joke miss, and never does one miss so horribly. Going the Distance comes equipped with an R rating for a reason. It's not questionable like No Strings Attached, and uses it not gratuitously like it's trying to hard to be funny. It's actually one of the dirtiest rom-coms I've seen in recent memory. And that is a compliment.
Don't criticize Going the Distance for being cliche. All romantic comedies have the same element - it's obvious the two people on the cover of the poster/Dvd, the man and the woman, will end up together. It's obvious two thirds of the way through the film the characters will get into a fight, patch it up, and kiss passionately while pop music plays. As long as how we get to that is funny, the characters are charming and not just the male and female unit, and if the film can throw in some extra perks like music and some great shots, it's a good or great romantic comedy. And Going the Distance is.
Starring: Justin Long, Drew Barrymore, Jason Sudeikis, and Charlie Day. Directed by: Nanette Burstein.