<\/strong><\/p>\n Directed By: Nanette Burstein<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Starring: Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Christina Applegate<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n You’d think it’d be nearly impossible to make a decent romantic comedy with all the genre garbage we get every year. Look at all the junk we’ve already suffered through in 2010: Leap Year<\/em>, When in Rome<\/em>, The Bounty Hunter<\/em>, The Back-up Plan<\/em>, Killers<\/em> and more. What it comes down to is that we’ve basically seen it all before and it’s just not funny anymore. Now what we’re left with is exaggerated versions of those overused gags making them even less amusing and more annoying. However, Going the Distance<\/em> takes a different approach. It may start with all those stereotypical genre elements, but rather than turn them into caricatures out of desperation for a laugh, the filmmakers take a more realistic approach and it works.<\/p>\n \n Where do you go to let loose after a bad day? A bar of course, and it just so happens that both Erin and Garrett (Drew Barrymore and Justin Long) suffered through some rough times on the same day, wound up at the same bar and have an affinity for the same Centipede machine. And so our love story begins. Garrett\u2019s a new yorker working at a record company while Erin is only in town for the summer interning at a prestigious New York City newspaper. After sharing a magical night they examine the situation and come to the conclusion that the fling will last Erin\u2019s remaining six weeks and then that\u2019s that, but just before Erin hops on a plane home to San Francisco, the two decide they\u2019ve got something that\u2019s too good to end and opt to give the long distance thing a shot.<\/p>\n \n The effort starts out decently; they talk on the phone, do some video chatting, constantly text each other and Garrett flies out to San Francisco for Thanksgiving. However, it doesn\u2019t take long for them to really feel the pressure of the many miles between them and they start to second guess each other\u2019s faithfulness, consider forfeiting job opportunities to be together and get particularly lonely in the bedroom.<\/p>\n \n Going the Distance<\/em> is nothing more than your standard romantic comedy, but what sets it apart from the lot is that it\u2019s actually rather smart. First time screenwriter Geoff LaTulippe seems to really have a handle on the genre and knows where to put the clich\u00e9s to use, but not in an overbearing manner. You\u2019ve got the standard budding relationship montage, the gorgeous co-workers that could pose a threat and the snarky sidekicks, but that montage feels as genuine as I\u2019d imagine Barrymore and Long\u2019s real life relationship is and those secondary characters have much more to offer than banal advice.<\/p>\n \n Making the material even more appealing is the cast. Long and Barrymore make for fine leads and certainly have chemistry, but I still have a hard time accepting the duo as a couple \u2013 which is definitely not their fault. Both performances are sweet and they easily win your heart, but it\u2019s the supporting cast that\u2019s responsible for the film\u2019s most memorable moments, particularly Christina Applegate. She plays Erin\u2019s sister, a mother and a certified neat freak. She\u2019s easily the funniest character in the film, but followed not too far behind by Garrett\u2019s band of buddies played by Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day. Sudeikis is the sounder of the two and therefore doesn\u2019t get as many laughs as Day, but still makes for a fantastic addition. As for Day, he requires a little getting used to, but his clueless yet lovable demeanor makes just about anything he says and does amusing.<\/p>\n \n
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