GOING THE DISTANCE 2.5*** (but barely)

In “Going the Distance”, Garrett (Justin Long) and Erin (Drew Barrymore) meet while arguing over a computer game of Centipede at a bar. Video games turn into beer. Beers turn into beer bongs. Bongs turn drunk and drunk turns into sex at Garrett’s place. However, their initial one night stand turns into 6 incredible weeks. Unfortunately, 6 is all they get the easy way. Erin's internship at the New York Chronicle in NYC is soon over and she's headed back to San Francisco to finish grad school. Unwilling to call it quits, Garrett suggests that they have a long distance relationship to hold onto what they believe is a good thing.

Easier said than done as is shown by the many obstacles such as the long wait between visits, endless phone calls and Skyping, and the pain of loneliness. They even try phone sex which ends up as a funny disaster. Long distance relationships are nothing new in the realm of chick flicks. However the story is rather predictable and at times trite. But the comedy in the movie was fairly good so it was enjoyable at times but not enough times to be more than an average Rom-Com.

Drew Barrymore plays a less kooky character than usual and is all the more likable and believable for it. But I don't buy Justin Long as the leading man. He just seems too young for the part and is not believable in the role. I couldn’t get past this and it nagged at me during the whole movie.

There is a lot of profanity in the movie ( got a “R” rating) with heavy doses of the F-word which at times seems to be for the sole purpose of shocking or titillating the viewers. It also has toilet humor and some rather embarrassing sexual sequences. It may be a “chick” flick but with the “R” stuff, a lot of the guys will probably enjoy it.


Clark