Film review: Going the Distance

In the spirit of Away We Go and 500 Days of Summer, Going the Distance starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long (the “Mac” guy) is more than just a cute chick flick. It’s girl-and-guy-friendly rom-com made for the thirty-somethings about a couple who hooks up one drunken evening then struggles with their long-distance relationship.

In this movie, you get two lead actors who look like they are just being themselves, a few eighties inside jokes, a couple of randomly hilarious scenes and it all just feels really authentic. While Drew Barrymore and Justin Long have great on-screen chemistry (comedic and romantic, likely because of their on-again-off-again relationship which was on during filming), it’s the supporting cast that makes the movie. Christina Applegate as Barrymore’s older, wiser and creepily over-protective sister is brilliant. And Charlie Day plays Long’s quirky, dirty roommate. His monologue about self-pleasure with a grandma while crossing a busy NYC street is hands-down the funniest and most memorable scene in the movie.

Going the Distance is directed by Nanette Burstein who is better known for her documentary titled American Teen. This might explain why the movie feels like you’ve just been dropped into a friends’ apartment and are hanging out in their reality for a little while. It has that raw, imperfect, life-like quality about it that makes it all the more charming.

While this film is less powerful than Away We Go and less honest than 500 Days of Summer, it is probably funnier than both of them. Laugh out loud funny. So if you’re looking for something light and entertaining on the weekend (or on a plane ride), or if you are craving some eighties nostalgia (like references to Top Gun), check it out. At the very least you’ll get to hear Berlin and have a few good laughs.

Today’s post was written by Sona Khosla. While Sona cares about a lot of things like brand integrity, George Michael and a good BBC costume drama, it’s her desire to find meaning and live intentionally that inspires me. You can catch her blogging regularly at www.sonakhosla.com.

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2. Film review: Big Trouble in Little China
3. Film Review: The Warriors (Netflix November)
4. Film review: The King’s Speech
5. Film Review: Highlander