Movie Review - Going the Distance

It’s nearly three thousand miles from New York City to San Francisco, but you can make the trip a few times over in only 102 minutes with Going the Distance. Director Nanette Burstein’s new cross-country romantic comedy saves you money on travel, and also provides a surprisingly satisfying mix of humor and heart.

Drew Barrymore plays Erin, an intern at the New York Sentinel, who meets Garrett (Justin Long) several weeks before she wraps up her internship and heads back west to Stanford University. Despite entering into the relationship with no intentions of getting serious, they develop an undeniable connection during their six weeks together and ultimately decide to give a long distance relationship a shot.

It’s not all fun and games, but between their busy lives on their respective coasts, Erin and Garrett manage to connect through technology and occasional visits. Despite limited face time, they enjoy the bliss of a fledgling relationship, but figuring out what lies ahead for Erin after Stanford means making some big decisions that could definitely impact their future together.

While Long and Barrymore have their comedic moments, they primarily serve to fulfill the romance requirement of this romantic comedy, giving glimpses of their cross-country relationship from the silly to the bittersweet and everything in between. The lead actors handle these ups and downs with believable emotion, and, perhaps thanks to Barrymore and Long’s own dating history, prove to have genuine chemistry. As such, it’s more fulfilling to root for their relationship knowing that Erin and Garrett are best friends, not just two attractive people getting together, as is the case with a number of Hollywood’s romantic comedies.

However, beyond Erin and Garrett’s romantic endeavor, the comedy shines primarily thanks to big laughs delivered by the supporting cast, all of whom have had success in television comedies. Rivaling the performance by Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd in Knocked Up, Christina Applegate and Jim Gaffigan play Erin’s high-strung sister and laid back brother-in-law to perfection. Back in New York, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis play Dan and Box, respectively, Garrett’s oddball yet loyal friends, whose individual eccentricities bring constant amusement.

It is the spot-on delivery by the supporting cast that elevates writer Geoff LaTulippe’s already above average script. Sharp one-liners, usually delivered by Day, are the sort of witty sound bites that can be quoted long after the movie ends. Those who shy away from raunchy topics may want to stay away, as there’s plenty of them in the movie. However, LaTulippe balances out many of the dirty moments with a sweet romance that captures elements of long-distance dating that, at least in my own experience, actually happen. From the trivial things that bring a smile, such as exchanging holiday gifts over Skype, to the frustrations, like not being able to coordinate normal hours for phone conversations, Going the Distance touches on a number of real life situations and emotions.

Erin and Garrett are a nice enough couple to spend a little time with, but they’re so into each other that after a while the audience almost feels like a third wheel. By the film’s end, I cared less about Erin and Garret, and more about hanging out with their hilarious friends for a while longer. While Going the Distance does not present anything new or profound regarding the less than desirable situation that is a long distance relationship, it packs in the laughs with some flirty fun that makes heading to the theater worth the distance—and you can be glad it’s not three thousand miles.

Noteworthy News: Tune in to see Day when season 6 of FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia premieres Sept. 16, and catch Sudeikis on NBC's Saturday Night Live which premieres Sept. 25. Long can be seen in the Robert Redford directed film, The Conspirator, which premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival, and Barrymore is working on director Ken Kwapis' Everybody Loves Whales.