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Rashid Irani's Review: Going The Distance
After sharing screen time with a large ensemble in last year’s romantic roundelay, He’s Just Not That Into You, the on-again, off-again real-life couple Drew Barrymore and Justin Long reunites as the lead pair in this coarse comedy.
Going The Distance
Cast: Drew Barrymore, Justin Long
Direction: Nanette Burstein
Rating: 2 stars
After sharing screen time with a large ensemble in last year’s romantic roundelay, He’s Just Not That Into You, the on-again, off-again real-life couple Drew Barrymore and Justin Long reunites as the lead pair in this coarse comedy.
She’s an intern for a daily newspaper in New York. And he’s employed with a low-level music firm. Still smarting from a failed relationship, the commitment-phobic music man has a short-term fling with the wannabe journalist. But when she returns home to San Francisco to complete her graduation, the couple struggles to keep their long-distance affair alive.
Making her feature debut, documentary filmmaker Burstein (American Teen) fails to circumvent the contrivances of the meagre script. The raunchy shenanigans and risqué dialogue (some of it snipped by censors) pummel the viewer into a stupor.
As predictable as most of Going the Distance is, there’s still a degree of fun in watching Drew Barrymore and Justin Long strut their stuff.
Unfortunately, though, neither of them is flatteringly photographed. Ms Barrymore in particular looks much older than her character’s 31 years. Moreover, the New York and San Francisco locations are underutilised.
In the supporting role of the journo’s disapproving older sister, Christina Applegate doesn’t get enough opportunity to demonstrate her comedic talent.
With barely enough laughs to squeak by, Going the Distance is yet another dispiriting rom-com. Steer clear.
