'Going the Distance'

'Going the Distance' (R) (3 stars)

Writer: Geoff LaTulippe
Director: Nanette Burstein
Starring: Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Christine Applegate, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Kelli Garner, Ron Livingston, Jim Gaffigan

A while back I wrote a review on "The Switch", a romantic comedy starring Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston. I mentioned how likable the leads where and that I would follow them in any story. That is also true of Justin Long and definitely Drew Barrymore in "Going the Distance". The difference here is that I like this movie much better because it has a sharper focus even though it has some faults. The movie deals with long distance relationships and focuses on Erin and Garrett who meet cute at an arcade game at a bar. They immediately are drawn to each other and we can see why, because they are decent, good looking people. We are drawn to the two because Drew Barrymore and Justin Long are very likable actors and they have good chemistry here. They are an off and on again couple in real life but that doesn't always spell chemistry. When her internship at a newspaper in San Francisco ends Erin has to go back home to find a job in New York. With Garrett living in San Francisco the two try to have a long distance relationship.

What I like about this story is that it has not been done a lot and that gives this romantic comedy freshness. It is about something when recent crap like "Valentine's Day" and "Things You Can Tell" are shallow and about really nothing. This is also a very funny movie at times and a lot of the laughs are generated by the supporting characters like all successful comedies do. Jason Sudeikis (SNL) is much better here than he was in "The Bounty Hunter" as one of Garrett's pals. There is also a very funny performance by Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as another pal. Sudeikis and Day are great together and hilarious whenever they are on screen. There is also another solid and dependable performance by the wonderful Christina Applegate as Erin's sister. Applegate is becoming a great comic actress and I am still waiting for a great romantic comedy for her to star in (wake up casting agents!) This movie works because it has many laughs but deals with serious issues in relationships in a well written way. I also love that this movie is rated R instead of safe and bland PG-13. Now we have a romantic comedy that has dialogue that real people would speak. I know this is a shock to some but real people swear, real buddies tell dirty jokes and a lot of people use the F word. In most romantic comedies, because of the PG-13 rating, we get a fake sanitized world and that's why most stink these days. This movie is truthful, different and Long and Barrymore are great and real here. Drew Barrymore has such a sweetness, charm and magic that makes any movie happier and sunnier. The movie does drag sometime and some humor falls flat but it is better than most romantic comedies these days.