Long distance relationships suck. Everyone knows that. But did Drew Barrymore and Justin Long (off-screen couple) need to tell us how they've suffered staying apart from each other for over 120 minutes?
Going the Distance
A; Romance
Dir: Nanette Burstein
Cast: Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Ron Livingstone, Christina Applegate
Rating: **
What's it about: Long distance relationships suck. Everyone knows that. But did Drew Barrymore and Justin Long (off-screen couple) need to tell us how they've suffered staying apart from each other for over 120 minutes? Erin (Drew) and Garrett (Justin) meet, fall in love and realise they have to travel the air miles that separate New York and San Francisco. What seems like a cakewalk soon gets frustrating and heart wrenching when insecurity, jealousy and impatience start setting in. To make matters worse, Erin's sister'su00a0 (Christina Applegate) disapproval of Garrett doesn't help either. So we watch them fight, make up, break up and fight all over again. Along the way there are enough ludicrous jokes courtesy of Erin's best friends (Charlie Day and Jason Sudeiki) to keep you occupied.u00a0
What's hot: Justin and Drew have an affable chemistry mostly because the two have been on-off lovers off screen. Coincidence or not, but the reason they broke up is also because Drew couldn't spend enough time with Justin during his shooting schedules. Perhaps they decided to let the film be a catharsis for the them to find a solution. Barrymore succeeds in charming you in most of the scenes, especially in those initial moments when she meets Long and discovers his obsession with Top Gun. Listening to Berlin's signature tune from the film in a really awkward moment between the lovers is incredibly funny. Long has a nerdy yet smart appeal about himself that works in his favour.u00a0
What's not: There's not a single line, subplot or character here that you haven't seen before. Most of the tricks in romantic comedies attempt to target the chicks and single guys dreaming of romancing the girl on screen. Unfortunately the jokes and one liners are strong only in a few scenes. The script is poorly drafted and the supporting characters like Erin's sister or Garrett's friends do nothing to take the story forward. The 'dry humping' and toilet jokes fail to impress. But the biggest glitch is giving the plot a much needed impetus in the second half. After establishing the fact that long distance relationships are tough, the events following the oh-so novel discovery are bland. Also it's unbelievable that in today's world where freelancing for jobs or working from home is an option the couple doesn't even consider it. Showing the American economy in a state of crumble, and job lay offs seem like lousy excuses to support the wafer thin argument of why the couple is apart.u00a0
What to do: Wish the writers would have actually gone the distance and put some effort into the script. Neither utterly romantic nor a comedy the film is best watchable on rental.
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