For work last night, I brought along three of my friends from home to the advanced screening of Going the Distance. I love romantic comedies – that should be apparent by now. I also saw Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman last week in The Switch, but didn’t feel like reviewing it so this will be a combo. Going the Distance was not your ordinary sugar coated cookie cutter romantic comedy. I don’t want to say that I liked it better than The Switch because it was rated R, but it highly likely that that could be one of the reasons.
I’ve discovered that the only role that Jennifer Aniston can play is Rachel Green on Friends. Maybe she’s a sitcom star and not a box office actress and that’s okay! If Friends were still running, she would be in great shape! Drew Barrymore has done a number of romantic comedies, but yet somehow each role has been unique. She has a way of bringing the character to life whether it is with Josey Gellar in Never Been Kissed or Lucy Whitmore in 50 First Days. Jennifer has been playing the same character in movies for years. Herself.
The on-screen chemistry between Drew Barrymore and Justin Long was steamy. It was cute [which was the response I got from many of the viewers afterward,] but it was more than cute. It was realistic in showing the emotions of bliss and frustration and typical challenges that long distance relationships struggle through. Has there ever been any other movie about long distance relationships? I’m surprised it’s taken them this long. The chemistry between Jennifer and Jason not so much. It was boring. It wasn’t believable and it was also slightly awkward to the point of making me feel uncomfortable. I guess it helps a bit if you’re actually dating in real life.
The humor – you will laugh. I’ve come to the conclusion that romantic comedies rated PG-13 are pretty tame and directed at mostly women. Romantic comedies rated R like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and 40-Year-Old Virgin are aimed at both men and women. My guy friends loved it. It’s as much a guy film as it is girls. They really don’t hold back with the sexual references. It is dirty so don’t bring your kids and don’t bring your parents – it’s not that type of film. You won’t be getting any of the dry humor you received in The Switch with this one.
Don’t have weekend plans? Glad I could help you out.
Later on this evening, The Boxer Rebellion will be performing at the Crocodile with Amusement Parks on Fire and Roman Holiday. The rest of the information can be found on the poster. If you’re not doing anything, I recommend that you go to this show. I was first introduced to this band when I saw them in the film Going the Distance and I haven’t stopped listening to the CD since.