ALISON SAYS:
I was slightly anxious about going to see this movie. A friend wrote the screenplay and the main female character is based on my old roommate’s best friend. So I was worried about going to see this movie, not liking it (I was not in love with the trailer) and then having to write an honest review. Luckily, I didn’t have anything to worry about and really enjoyed this flick.
I’m also not a romantic comedy kind of girl, but Going the Distance is not a typical romantic comedy kind of film. First off, it’s a lot funnier than those types of films and it’s not forced humor like you usually see in chick flicks. And it’s not just for the ladies. Guys will like this film too, I swear. The jokes are dirty, mostly smart and darn funny. It’s one of the more honest portrayals of what it’s like to date in this day and age. And also what’s it’s like to try and keep a relationship alive despite having 3000 miles keeping you apart. I also loved the relationship between Justin Long’s character, Garrett, and his guy friends. Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis were hysterical as Garrett’s disgusting, intrusive, loveable pals.
Drew Barrymore and Justin Long are really great in this film. They make a cute couple, are funny together and brought a levity to some of the “sadder” scenes that I did not expect to find seeing this movie. But for me, some of the best parts were what the supporting cast brought to the screen. I was so excited to see people like Kristen Schaal (in a minor part), Jim Gaffigan and Rob Riggle. This was also probably one of my favorite roles for Christina Applegate since The Sweetest Thing. Kudos to the casting director.
Overall, I laughed a lot.
LA Viewers: I paid full price at Arclight and think it was worth it.
Translation for non-LA viewers: Wanna laugh? Go see this movie. Ladies, need a date movie your dude won’t hate? Go see this movie.
JESSICA SAYS:
I can tell before I even get started writing this that this review is going to be pretty short. Between seeing Going the Distance last week and writing this review I came down with a bad case of some kind of stomach flu. I’ll spare everyone the details, but I’m just now coming into the clear. My post-flu haze is making it hard to remember the details of what I really thought of the movie. What I do remember is it was one of those movies where you walk out and go, ‘That was enjoyable. Not really challenging on any level, just an enjoyable story to watch.’ As Alison said in her review, I, too, know Alison’s old roommate—the girl who was the basis for one of the supporting characters in this movie. I was a bit nervous of how to handle this review, if I ended up not liking the movie. Luckily, I liked it.
My main thought coming out of Going the Distance was – it seems like it would be fun to hang out with Drew Barrymore and Justin Long. They seem fun. Plus, Jim Gaffigan and Christina Applegate are pret-ty funny. There is a scene on a dining room table that made me laugh out loud, but I don’t want to ruin it for you (it’s in the trailers though).
Going the Distance is worth the full ticket price. It would make the perfect date movie.
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