MOVIE REVIEW: GOING THE DISTANCE

When Erin and Garrett meet at a New York bar one night, they have an instant connection with one another. Their relationship blossoms and they begin to grow close to one another. The only problem is that Erin lives in San Diego and is only in New York for a summer internship. Once the summer ends, the two try and have the often failed, long distance relationship.

Going the Distance unites real life on again off again couple, Drew Barrymore and Justin Long, in a romantic comedy about the difficulties of trying to have a long distance relationship. Christina Applegate, Jim Gaffigan, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis co-star.

Drew Barrymore has been none for having great chemistry with her male leads. The same goes for Going the Distance. Barrymore and Long, whether it be due to the fact that while filming they were actually dating in real life, have a magnificent chemistry that I haven't seen in a while. They play off each other so well and they make their relationship something the viewer actually cares about.

However, Barrymore and Long aren't the only ones with chemistry in the film. The co-stars carry their own weight in this film, which is rare. Normally in romantic comedies, the best friend role is kind of pushed to the side so the stars of the film can shine. Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis really get to show off their comedic abilities. Charlie Day in particular really steals the show in every scene he is in.

The film is more of a romantic comedy for younger adults. Director, Nanette Burstein, really missed out on a bigger audience by putting graphic language in the film which gave it an R rating. This is one of those films where they could have cut out the "f" word and it would have dropped down to PG-13 and then it would have made a lot more money while appealing to a bigger audience. Had this been a mob film or maybe a film by Judd Apatow, it would have been fine, but older audience members is going to be blindsided by the language.

The film works well particularly because the long distance relationship hasn't been beat into the ground yet in Hollywood. There is no falling for another person, but the couple gets back together just in time for the credits to role in this film. This is a film that really does a good job at tackling the difficulties of having a serious long distance relationship.

The film hits a fifteen minute period that really drags out and cause the film to lose momentum and then just as it picks back up, it abruptly is forced into a quick ending. The final thirty minutes needed a lot of work as far as editing and actual pace of the film is concerned.

Overall Going the Distance delivers a lot of big laughs with a chemistry that is one for the books. I give it a 7 out of 10.