Going the Distance
R, 97m., 2010
Cast: Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Charlie Day, Christina Applegate, Jason Sudeikis, Jim Gaffigan, Kelli Garner, and Ron Livingston
Directed by Nanette Burstein
Screenplay by Geoff LaTuippe

Going the Distance is a romantic comedy with two very likable leads in the shape of Justin Long and Drew Barrymore, who find themselves going out for one lazy been there seen that before script.

The script by newcomer Geoff LaTuippe and direction by documentarian Nanette Burstein tries to give the film some edge by basing the movie’s love fling in reality but gets caught up in the standard whining of most romantic comedies.

More after the jump…

Long and Barrymore as New York/San Francisco long distance lovers Erin and Garrett create a chemistry that is easily found on screen with their inevitable meet cue moments. With most rom-coms, it takes an entire movie to convince an audience that these two particular actors would like each other. Look no further than this year’s She Out of My League or The Bounty Hunter on how to make a rom-comedy disaster.

Trying to help this script along are several comedic veterans Christina Applegate, Charile Day, Jason Sudeikis, Rob Riggle, and Jim Gaffigan playing the various friends and family members, who just hang around so they can throw out the right advice speech when needed and still add a dick or fart joke in to keep the R rating.

Keeping the movie at an R rating, it feels like a hybrid of Judd Apatow meets Nora Ephron at times. This works occasionally with the juxtaposition of Garrett’s friends giving him advice on top of Erin’s sisters and vice versa, but then stops and sets itself back to a 1 in creating any further comedic ideas other than that they are 3000 miles apart.

Going the Distance gives us characters that are nice and help the trip be more pleasant along the way, but once they reac the final destination, it’s nothing you haven’t seen before.

Grade: C+

Who would ever think that being discovered at a Bar Mitzvah would lead to a solid career as an indie actress? Well look no further than Kelli Garner, the pixie blonde girl of Larry Clark’s Bully, Lars and the Real Girl, and the low-budget southwest gem Dreamland. This week she goes a little more mainstream, reuniting with her Dreamland co-star Justin Long with the cross-country romance, Going The Distance.

A word from Kelli: “I’m mostly cast as the Lolita type, either a blonde bombshell Lolita, or the girl-with-black-hair-who-smokes-weed Lolita. Either way, I’m inevitably the sexpot.”

Best typecasting ever.

More pics of Kelli after the jump…

The trailer for new rom-com Going the Distance looks at the trials and tribulations of a long distance relationship as Justin Long and Drew Barrymore try to make it work from spaced-out area codes. It takes a concept with potential and weaves in thin threads of triteness between scenes with "Always Sunny’s" Charlie Day. 

The original script was on the Black List awhile back, but of course Hollywood execs replaced the dark tones and realistic characters with botched spray tan and inappropriate kitchen table sex set pieces. Justin Long delivers, as he usually seems to do, but I find myself wondering why his character puts so much effort into a long distance relationship with Drew Barrymore when Charlie Day is (inexplicably) his father. Live with dad forever, dude. No girl’s going to keep you as entertained as he will, even if she does let you feel her up over her shirt.

Check out the trailer after the jump. Going the Distance phones it in to theaters August 27, 2010.

Going the Distance — Trailer – Watch more Movie Trailers

Director: Nanette Burnstein

Cast: Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Charlie Day, Christina Applegate

Synopsis: A look at the trials and tribulations of a long-distance relationship.

Release Date: August 27, 2010