What I've Ben Watching: Going the Distance

Romantic comedies have a much-deserved reputation for being heavily formulaic. Most of them operate on the same four-step premise; they meet, they fall in love, trouble ensues but they wind up together in the end.

It's kind of unfair to poke fun at the genre because without romantic comedies, many a girl's shoulder would be sans a boy's arm in a dark movie theater. Truly, the only merits a romantic comedy should be based on is whether the film is (A.) romantic, and (B.) comedic, and Going the Distance is fairly successful at being both.

Going the Distance, as the title suggests, is the story of a long-distance relationship between Justin Long and Drew Barrymore that spans New York and San Francisco. When Barrymore's character lands her dream job, both must come to terms with the fact that a cross-country relationship might not be in their best interests.

Going the Distance succeeds at being romantic without being too sappy and comedic without being too obnoxious. It borrows a lot of elements from other filmmakers such as Kevin Smith and more notably, Judd Apatow. However, the film is confident in the humor of its characters and dialogue rather than stooping to easy slapstick and potty humor, though there are a few good gags in the film, one involving Long's character and a spray-on tanning salon. The romance exists but doesn't become a third wheel to the film with a customary emotional soundtrack in tow. The moments are genuine but brief, so as not to upset more humorous approach of the movie.

As said before though, it's a completely cookie-cutter affair. You know exactly how it's all going turn out by the time the production company logos appear. On cue, the four-step process of romantic comedies shuffles through its mundane rounds as if it were morning drill on a military base. However, Going the Distance has the ability to rise above its mediocrity with a great cast.

Justin Long continues to channel his inner Bill Murray with his sarcasm and wit that plays off Barrymore's lisp-laced precociousness very well.  Their chemistry is for lack of a better word, sweet, and doesn't seem forced at all. A lesson that some previous romantic comedy vets could stand to learn. (Looking at you Jennifer Aniston.)

The film has a comedic powerhouse supporting cast that features Charlie Day, Christina Applegate and Jim Gaffigan. The dialogue in the film almost seemed written with every actor and actress in mind, and truly it's where the film shines.

There's a great scene where Barrymore and Long are on their first date. It's shot a little more low-tech than the rest of the film and it wouldn't surprise me if the entire thing was ad-libbed. It's a genuine scene and it's little moments like this that can make the whole movie. It just shows that dialogue and characters can really carry a film beyond its paint-by-numbers plot.

As yet another mainstream romantic comedy, Going the Distance breaks the mold with some great character work and a fairly reserved, but still very funny, comedic nature. It doesn't have the legs to become recognizable in a sea of similar films, but it's certainly worth your time.

Grade: B-