Director: Nanette Burstein (American Teen, The Kid Stays in the Picture)
Cast: Justin Long, Drew Barrymore, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day and Christina Applegate
Synopsis: Erin and Garrett are good together--even when they're apart. When aspiring journalist Erin moves to San Francisco to finish her last year of school, boyfriend Garrett, an assistant music scout, stays in Manhattan to pursue his ambitions and wait on that promotion he's been promised. But when it seems their separation is almost over, Erin scores her dream job in California just as Garrett's career heats up in New York, putting their love to the test. "This welcome surprise is entertaining, warm and feels surprisingly rooted in real life."--Filmink Australia
Running Time: 103 Minutes (plus 8-10 minutes of trailers)
Camera 12 DowntownBuy Tickets Daily at 4:45, 7:10, 9:40; plus Sat-Mon at 12 noon, 2:20; plus Fri-Sat at 12 midnight
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No Free Passes, But Discount Cards O.K,
Reviews:
Entertaining Romantic Comedy
by Cara Nash
While occasionally opting for cheap laughs, this romantic comedy is entertaining, warm and feels surprisingly rooted in real life.
Given the slew of romantic comedies released this year with highly unpredictable premises - The Back-Up Plan, When In Rome, etc. - Going the Distance is a welcome surprise as a film which, at its core, is dealing with real relationships and real romantic dilemmas. While not quite in the same league, it's a film more in line with the sentiment of last year's (500) Days of Summer.
After being dumped, record-label junior executive Garrett (Justin Long) meets Erin (Drew Barrymore), a journalism grad student in the final weeks of her summer internship at a New York paper. The two hit it off immediately, bonding over beer, bong hits, arcade games and The Shawshank Redemption and embark on a six week whirlwind romance. When Erin's internship comes to a close and she has to return to San Francisco to complete her degree, the pair gamely decide to keep their romance alive via webcams and frequent-flyer miles.
Directed by Nanette Burstein - who produced the stylish teen documentary American Teen - the film contains a lot of indie traits; from the hipper-than-thou soundtrack, animated title sequences, references to YouTube and iPhone messages complete with smiley faces appearing on screen. While many of the references to new media may cause some to cringe, a lot of it rings true with regard to how modern communication and technology impacts and helps maintain relationships.
Despite its hip tendencies, there is a real substance underlying this film, partly the result of the easy chemistry Long and Barrymore share on screen. Rather than introducing contrived plot devices to break the couple up such as drunken affairs with co-workers, Going the Distance smartly reveals that the real complications in a long distance relationship can be the genuine pangs of loneliness and the inevitably tough decisions that have to be made.
At times this poignancy seems at odds with the film's in-your-face vulgarity - largely in scenes with Garrett's buddies. However, the film works best when it isn't trying so hard for wall to wall laughs, resonating most in its subtler moments.
