DVD Reviews

Going the Distance - Blu-Ray Review

By June L. Dec 29, 2010, 16:16 GMT

Erin (Drew Barrymore) and Garrett (Justin Long) strike sparks for a summer fling in New York City but neither expects it to last once Erin heads home to San Francisco and Garrett remains behind for his Big Apple job. But after six romantic weeks, neither is sure they want it to end. So despite opposing coasts, naysaying friends and family and unexpected temptations, the couple just might have found something ...more

A long distance romance seems doomed from the start, but for Erin (Drew Barrymore) and Garrett (Justin Long), it is worth a try. Their relationship is new and intense and neither is ready for it to end simply because of geography.

What follows is a story of the obstacles and the triumphs of their attempts to follow their hearts, on two different coasts.

Be forewarned, this is a mature comedy, aimed at the 30 to 50 year olds, for all others it may seem unintelligible as it requires an acceptance of frank discussions and colorful language in everyday usage, or at least enough to toughen sensibilities.

That being said, Going the Distance is wildly funny, touching, clever, ribald, dramatic, philosophical, sweet and highly entertaining.

Erin and Garret are a thoroughly modern couple, with lives that have not jelled into permanence. Erin is in New York working as a summer intern, and has vague hopes of landing a job as a journalist. Garrett has the skill to find great musical talent, but works for a label that assigns him bands to manage whose music he can’t stand.

A chance meeting catapults the two into a relationship, and for six weeks all is bliss. Erin has to return home to California and go back to grad school, living with her sister Corrine (Christina Applegate) and her husband Phil (Jim Gaffigan) while she waits to hear if she landed the tenuous job offer in New York.

Garrett stays behind in the Big Apple, but is realizing that he doesn’t really like his job. Erin and Garrett try to make the romance last, with advice from some friends and dire predictions as to the outcome from others.

The friends and family add layers to this film. Garrett’s two buddies Dan (Charlie Day) and Box (Jason Sudeikis) are full of “wisdom” and commentary, some of which is simply nonsense, and the other, some of the best lines in the film.

Sharing that honor of great lines are Christina Applegate as Corinne and Jim Gaffigan as Phil, whose bemused acceptance of his wife’s sister and her crazy boyfriend is superb. Through texting, and sexting and even phone sex, Erin and Garrett try to keep the flame burning across the miles. Will it be enough?

Going the Distance combo pack is full of bonuses and specials. You get the Blu-Ray, a DVD discs and a digital copy of the film. The extras that are on the Blu-ray add even more fun to the production. There is “A Guide to Long Distance Dating” which is full of the dos and don’ts of a romance that exists across the miles. This advice is offered by both cast members and crew.

“How to Have A Perfect Date” gets the stars to give their opinions, male and female on this all important topic. There is a film commentary by director Nanette Burstein discussing what she needed to do to direct her first romantic comedy.

The Cast of Going the Distance: Off the Cuff” shows what happens when improvisations take over. The Boxer Rebellion’s music video “if You Run” is included as well as a behind the scenes featurette of making Going the Distance’s sound track.