Rating:  

New Line Cinema, Offspring Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Pictures.

Written by: Geoff LaTulippe.

Drew Barrymore returns to the big screen in yet another romantic comedy, her umpteenth by some counts, and this time, she stars opposite her real life romantic partner, Justin Long. In “Going The Distance”, Drew and Justin play a couple who meet in a bar over the old-fashioned arcade game “Centipede” and quickly fall head over heels for one another. As quickly as they fall in love, they encounter a major challenge – Drew’s character, Erin, is moving from New York to California to complete school once her journalism internship ends. Justin Long’s Garrett is a music executive for a fledgling but successful record label in the heart of New York City. Quickly, Erin and Garrett agree that nothing between them will be serious and they will simply hang out until Erin’s departure. Problem is…each may have found the person they were meant to be with and that simple little goodbye becomes a long-distance relationship which both eagerly commit to, naturally against the advice of their closest friends and family.

As you can tell, “Going The Distance” does not break any new ground with its set up, premise, or ultimate execution. In some ways this movie is the standard romantic comedy with overprotective siblings, trash-talking friends, and inevitable arguments and love scenes. In tossing all of that in together with a robust R-rating, “Going The Distance” seems and feels more alive and edgy than it really ever proves to be. In other words, there is a lot of running around without really getting anywhere.

What the R-rating does provide for is an interesting pace and feel to the film for much of its first half. Director Nanette Burstein, also a documentarian, seemed to recognize, thankfully, that Barrymore and Long have a natural ease and comfortableness with one another. There courtship and falling in love scenes really are believable and a bit heartwarming. At times, Burstein allows her leads to improvise and dialogue in a freeform style that makes the film feel more real than other big studio romantic sitcom-style films ever could hope to. Barrymore and Long are fun together and simply great to watch.

This film’s lack of a filter, however, yields its positives but also amplifies the negatives to a deafening roar. And while for many, “Going The Distance” will be an easy and entertaining watch, its haphazard and scattershot rhythm through the middle and concluding portions were distracting and too awkwardly executed for me to ignore. Even if and when I was laughing out loud.

Presumably in their early 30′s, although I do not think we ever really learn of Erin and Garrett’s actual ages, Erin is nearing the end of an internship with a newspaper that may or may not hire her. At one point, she tells Garrett that she has given up every one of her dreams for a guy once before, and she cannot let it happen again. So, with that history then, why she would ever agree to enter into a 6-week fling is never really explored or explained. I kept wondering if Erin was really all that stable a personality, but Garrett never really worries and so I guess I shouldn’t really either. Garrett, a sort of marketer/A&R rep/sales guy for his record company hates the commercialism his label now embraces and wants to quit. However, he is completely content to stay in New York City and hang with his two crass, funny, and equally misdirected best friends, Box and Dan (“Saturday Night Live”‘s Jason Sudeikis and “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia”‘s Charlie Day, respectively). However, meeting Garrett and his friends, as nice and likable as they all are, would certainly raise some red flags for Erin – so driven and determined to finish that internship and college journalism degree. But Erin never really questions Garrett or worries about his life plan so, again, I shouldn’t really worry either.

Except that screenwriter Geoff LaTulippe wants us to ignore the fact that Erin may be unstable mentally and Garrett has no vision for his life and eventually presents as rather self-centered. Essentially, I really didn’t know if I wanted these two to work through things and stay together and at point, I sort of wished they just called the whole thing off. Moving things along, Christina Applegate shows up as Erin’s big sister, Corinne, who seems to point out all the right concerns involving Erin and Garrett. But then again, I should nevermind…Erin and Garrett are in love and we should just watch them frolic for a few weeks, have awkward and formulaic arguments, failed phone sex, and rushed visits across country and believe that this is normal and this happens in everyday life.

The film also repeatedly fails to strike a balance between a sweet nature or a more caustic wit, rendering the film a bit schizophrenic. Are we watching a kind and embraceable love story with a few over-the-top shock comedy moments? Or are we taking in an edgy, vulgar, almost boorish comedy with a romantic kindness at its core? Nanette Burstein’s mismanagement of the film makes it impossible to tell and Geoff LaTulippe’s script simply tries way, way too hard in attempting to appeal to the male and female audience in equal parts.

However, with all of those problems acknowledged, I was entertained throughout the film. I laughed out loud a lot, especially with Garrett’s friends, Box and Dan, and all their self-absorbed cluelessness. Although playing a stock and stale caricature present in almost every romantic comedy, Christina Applegate does the best she can with her big sister role. Caught in some rather uncomfortable situations, Applegate has great comedic timing and has some witty exchanges with stand-up comic Jim Gaffigan, who plays her loving husband, Phil.

Despite being anchored down by a few major problems, I can readily admit that this movie will be loved by many and for a lot of good reasons. “…Distance” provides abundant humor and likability for people to glom on to; as long as they can ignore the leaps of faith we are asked to take, some head-scratching decision-making by the characters, and the sweet and sour taste of the movie in general. Ultimately, “Going The Distance” means well but simply cannot complete the obstacles it sets out for itself.

Should I See It?

YES

People love funny movies, despite obvious flaws. At times, “Going the Distance” is a very funny movie.

Although it tries way too hard, men and women will find equal things to enjoy here, assuming the R-rating is not an issue.

Could Drew Barrymore be any more likable and engaging on screen? It seems that she is nicer and more down-to-earth each time out. She is really terrific here.

NO

Unsure whether it wants to be vulgar and crude or sweet and kindhearted, “Going The Distance” may swing too wildly on the pendulum of taste for viewers. Sometimes, it tries to be both at the same time. This film needs a center point and the movie cannot find it.

Other than some great scenes near the beginning of the film with Barrymore and Long, there isn’t really anything innovative or original here.

You have grown weary of the romantic comedy genre and no rating, actors, or plot points are going to change that fact.