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Starring |
Drew Barrymore
,
Justin Long
,
Jason Sudeikis
,
Charlie Day
,
Christina Applegate
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Directed By |
Nanette Burstein
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Audio
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Dolby Digital 5.1
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Visuals
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2.40:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
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Running Time |
97 mins
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UK Release Date |
January 31, 2011
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Genre |
Comedy, Romantic Comedy
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Our Rating |
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User Rating |
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It has to be said that while a rom-com can be utter rubbish, but as long as Drew Barrymore is in front of the camera, it’s much easier to overlook the flaws on account of her tending to be so bloody likeable. That said, Going the Distance is by no means a regular chick flick that relies solely on the pulling power of the former Hollywood bad girl – instead it’s a slightly edgier animal that attempts to appeal to both sexes.
Of course it’s also different in the sense that Barrymore is also dating Justin Long in real life. As a result, the chemistry between the two leads is far more comfortable, natural and less saccharine than we’ve come to expect over the years. Unfortunately though, there are times when it feels as if the audience is a fly on the wall of their relationship. With the pair being overly familiar throughout the film, it’s tantamount to being in a pub with a couple that can’t go a few minutes without getting off with each other.
Still, despite the regular bouts of awkwardness, it’s frequently funny and it’s rude and bawdy enough to keep men interested while the women coo at how sweet the predictable story is. It all comes together as a film that should have mild broad appeal but doesn’t have a dedicated audience that will get blown away by it.
The few crux is dealing with long distance relationships. Barrymore plays journalism grad student Erin, who meets Long’s Garrett in a bar while she’s interning for the summer in New York. However when it’s time for her to go back to the other side of the country, the inseparable couple must deal with being apart, and discovering whether it’s possible to keep the flame alive when they’re separated by thousands of mile.
In terms of extras, the disc is crap. All you get is a bunch of alternate and deleted scenes that are all pretty forgettable. It’s pretty annoying considering the bounty of goodies on the Blu-ray version. Still, it’s not like the film demands extra material, so it’s not a massive loss.
Overall Verdict: An edgy, witty and less sickly rom-com but suffers from moments that can make the audience feel like a gooseberry. Still, not bad though.
Reviewer: Jordan Brown
