Going the Distance Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

Going the Distance Blu-ray Movie Review

Am I the only guy on the planet who enjoyed this one?

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown December 3, 2010

Going the Distance isn't as emotionally poignant as it desperately wants to be, but it is surprisingly honest; a rare trait in today's star-driven, gimmick-laden romantic comedies. The setup is simple. After a well-conceived credits sequence presents the film as a breezy Indie quirk-fest (as opposed to, say, a more familiar Big Studio Rom-Com), a pair of lonely hearts -- aspiring journalist Erin and record-label upstart Garret (real-life couple Drew Barrymore and Justin Long) -- strike up a relationship in New York for six short weeks. Everything seems perfect until the end of an internship forces her to move back to San Francisco. Despite being separated by thousands of miles though, they work to keep the romance alive, texting constantly, calling each other whenever they have the chance, and booking flights when they can afford a plane ticket. On the East Coast, his man-child friends (Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day) try to get him to focus on the here and now; in California, her uptight sister (Christina Applegate) and dim-witted brother-in-law (Jim Gaffigan) try to get her to prioritize her career and future. But the star-crossed texters' love only intensifies, as does the stress of maintaining a long-distance relationship. Before you can ask if love is enough, Erin and Garret have to decide whether to sacrifice their dreams for one another or simply start over with other people.

It sounds trite and conventional, I know. If I had zoned out during its first act, I'd still be convinced it was. But soon thereafter, subtly but surely, the film evolves into something else entirely, nimbly skirting convention rather than indulging in it, defying expectation rather than succumbing to it, and cultivating a believable relationship rather than one primed for the silver screen. Going the Distance never transcends its genre, but it makes a valiant effort and, by my estimation, nearly succeeds. That has to count for something.

All you need is love. Bum-bah-dah-dah-daaah...

Long is a talented comedian and chameleon (his extended cameo in Kevin Smith's Zack and Miri Make a Porno stole the show), but Barrymore is... let's just say an acquired taste. Home Fries, Never Been Kissed, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Duplex, 50 First Dates, Fever Pitch... I'll just stop there. Somehow though, be it the benefit of the actors' off-camera chemistry or their on-screen ease with each other, Erin and Garret's romance doesn't feel forced. I'm sure eyes will roll at the circumstances that bring them together (the two have been competing for the same high score on a classic arcade game in a local bar) and the amount of things they have in common is both convenient and contrived, but stranger relationships have been born from stranger coincidences. Their affection is genuine, their passion and subsequent suffering rarely rings false, and the strain of their separation is palpable. Sincerity is paramount in crafting an airtight cinematic romance -- yes, even in an at-times uneven R-rated comedy -- and Barrymore and Long infuse first-time screenwriter Geoff LaTulippe's characters with likability and charisma, even when lame situational gags and flat punchlines threaten to paint the couple into a cramped rom-com corner.

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of laughs to be had. Long, Sudekis, Day, Gaffigan and the bulk of their Boys' Club cohorts bring the goods, and each time the camera followed the gifted gents to Garret's apartment, Ron Livingston's record label offices, Sudekis and Day's bar stools, or Gaffigan's dining room, I couldn't wipe the grin off my face. LaTulippe's dialogue isn't as snappy as the actors' deliveries, I'll admit, and documentary filmmaker Nanette Burstein's R-rated hijinks often seem out of place when they waddle through the film's natural PG-13 habitat. But there's enough spark in even the dullest scenes to keep things fresh. If anything, Going the Distance lacks sharp feminine humor. Barrymore and her supporting fems tend to overexert themselves when drier wit would carry each one much further; particularly Applegate, whose compulsive tics and overprotective antics are obvious, obnoxious and unfortunate. To be clear, the supporting actresses aren't miscast, they're merely misused. Likewise, the resulting missteps aren't debilitating, they're merely the film's biggest detriment.

If it sounds like I'm defending Going the Distance in spite of its flaws, it's because I am. Burstein's feature-film debut is far from perfect, and honest as it may be, the long-distance relationship she, LaTulippe, Long and Barrymore create is far from insightful. However, Going the Distance maintains a strong heartbeat; a driving pulse most 21st Century rom-coms take for granted or neglect altogether. If nothing else, Burstein and her cast's connection to the material translates to the screen and permeates every encounter, regardless of whether the hit-or-miss comedy that accompanies each scene sinks or swims. Best of all, the filmmakers' avoid plucky heartstrings, sidestep syrupy sentiment and avoid nearly every plot point other rom-coms would tackle (Garret and Erin are given the chance to pursue other viable love interests, but resist nobly, and are frequently presented with opportunities to misinterpret each other's intentions, but actually approach conflicts intelligently). I still can't believe there wasn't a moment of, "whoops, I cheated on the love of my life," and I applaud Burstein and LaTulippe for planting two decent, integrity-fueled human beings in the middle of an R-rated romantic comedy. Ultimately, as I'm sure you already know, Going the Distance will appeal to some more than others. Give it a rent and see if it works for you.

Going the Distance Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Going the Distance comes up short with a problematic presentation. Granted, the film's scattershot photography is often to blame -- Warner's 1080p/VC-1 encoded transfer appears to be at least somewhat technically sound -- but it's difficult to discern its inherent shortcomings from any prevailing issues. Colors are vivid and skintones are convincing, so that's a plus, but instances of oversaturated primaries and muted blacks are a distraction. Likewise, detail is decent, but far from consistent. Soft shots are common, textures range from refined to spongy, and edge definition wavers whenever the lights go down. That being said, artifacting, persistent crush, banding, aliasing, significant smearing and aberrant noise remain at bay, and only a handful of sequences (shot using more intimate cameras a la Lost in Translation) suffer from any major eyesores. (Yep, the scene in which Barrymore and Long improvise a casual date at a streetside cafe is as unsightly, distracting and out-of-place as it was in the film's theatrical trailer.) Ultimately, the transfer gets the job done and nothing more. Passable? Definitely. Impressive? Not quite.

Going the Distance Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Warner's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is certainly serviceable, but rarely distinguishes itself from other decidedly average rom-com mixes. For the most part, conversations are clean and clear (the aforementioned streetside cafe scene and others like it are a tad muffled), voices are warm and lifelike, and believable ambience helps sell the film's varied indoor hotspots and outdoor locales. Even so, the LFE channel and rear speakers contribute little to the proceedings, and the whole of the experience is a fairly front-heavy affair. The soundfield, while adequate, isn't exactly immersive; dynamics, though suitably restrained, are underwhelming; and directionality, while accurate, isn't as engaging as it could be. Still, Going the Distance is a chatty romantic comedy, and audiophiles expecting anything more would do well to remember as much when setting their expectations. All things considered, it earns a shoulder shrug and a reluctant nod of approval from me.

Going the Distance Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray edition of Going the Distance offers a short but semi-sweet supplemental package, one the fizzles far more often than it pops. Rom-commers will grin once in a while, but everyone else will move on without giving it a second thought.

• Audio Commentary: Director Nanette Burstein delivers a fully functional (albeit slightly dry) commentary in which she covers the film's tone, casting, performances, costumes and set dressing, story, script, themes and rom-com roots and departures. The only problem? She grows quiet on more than one occasion, and she sometimes does little more than narrates what we're seeing on screen.
• How to Have the Perfect Date (HD, 8 minutes): Drew Barrymore, Justin Long and their cast and crewmates discuss dating, relationships and the perils of each in this mildly amusing EPK.
• A Guide to Long Distance Dating (HD, 8 minutes): A gushing glimpse behind-the-scenes that suggests Going the Distance is comprised entirely of universal truths and shared experiences.
• The Cast of Going the Distance: Off the Cuff (HD, 4 minutes): "We're going for A-comedy and B-reality." Strange, just four minutes ago, you were going for a realistic portrayal of long-distance relationships.
• Deleted Scenes (HD, 13 minutes): Seven improvisational, largely inconsequential cuts.
• Music (HD, 6 minutes): Two quickies round out the package, a "If You Run" music video and an extended promo/behind-the-scenes look at the Going the Distance soundtrack, both of which feature the music stylings of The Boxer Rebellion.

Going the Distance Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

You know the drill. Romantic comedies are a dime a dozen, and each one appeals to some more than others. I genuinely liked Going the Distance, often in spite of its flaws. Am I suggesting you will too? Not at all. Evasive, I know. Unfortunately, the film's Blu-ray release doesn't make the decision any easier. Its video transfer is unreliable, its DTS-HD Master Audio track lacks personality and its supplemental package is a bit of a bore. My advice? Take Going the Distance out for a casual date and see if it lives up to your standards. If so, shower it with affection. If not... well, there are plenty of other fish in the rom-com sea.