Long distance relationships can work. It takes a lot of hard work, but, with effort from both sides, can be successful. Of course, the relationship can never remain as such. Eventually, both paths are going to have to cross for it to ever fully work out. For example, when someone goes off to war, a long distance relationship can easily prevail, as the couple will eventually be reunited. Another factor is that, most likely, they've been in a long relationship.
Garrett (Justin Long) and Erin (Drew Barrymore) have not. They've only known each other for six weeks. In those six weeks, however, they have grown incompatible. They share a lot of the same interests, have the same sense of humor and are simply happy together. If Erin didn't have to leave at the end of the summer (she's interning at the New York Sentinel, a paper in which she desperately wants to write for), they could have possibly made it work. That's not going to happen, so they depart and say their goodbyes.
Knowing they're madly in love with each other, they don't let it happen like this. Despite knowing the difficulties of it, they decide to embark on a long distance relationship. The first few months go by swimmingly. The separation is hard on them, but they still are at the 'getting to know each other' stage that they have enough to occupy themselves with. When Thanksgiving strolls along, Garrett catches a flight and visits her at her sister's house.
There he meets said sister, Corinne (Christina Applegate), and her husband, Phil (Jim Gaffigan). They seem like a happy couple, but show signs of fatigue. Their marriage provides the couple with an insight on how a relationship can take its toll on you. Add in the mileage and they're in for a rocky drive. Still, they fight through it out of life.
As time goes on, problems start to arise. Both are becoming increasingly aroused, with no way of satisfying those needs. They attempt to elope over the phone, but that is met with hilarious downfalls. Even having conversations over the phone becomes difficult thanks to the drastically different time zones. They also become suspicious of one another, as the possibility of either cheating on the other is high.
Going the Distance does fall into a few clichés, but keeps itself afloat thanks to the long distance relationship. No film that I can recall has ever fully tackled the subject. Maybe because it's not an easy target to hit. Nanette Burstein takes a chance and hits a bullseye, creating a fresh and original romantic comedy. She handles the geographic aspect of the relationship with surprising ease, while Long and Barrymore connect on portraying a distraught and lovelorn couple.
The fact that they're a couple in real life helps Going the Distance, as opposed to detracting from it. While real Hollywood couples haven't made the transition well to the big screen, most notably Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez in Gigli, Long and Barrymore bring their magic with them. It's easy to see why these two would fall for each other, both in and off the screen. They're highly compatible and never seem forced. In a year full of constrained romances, these two come across as a natural couple.
Half the time it doesn't even feel as if they're reading from a script. Their dates early on in the film feel natural, as if Burstein placed the camera in front of them and told them to wing it. If that's the case, they struck gold. You know these two are going to get together, yet you never feel obligated to cheer for them. You root for them out of fruition, not necessity. You laugh when they joke around with each other and feel sad when they fight. You can't help but root for the two to make the long distance relationship work.
Justin Long and Drew Barrymore aren't the only ones who help Going the Distance stand out from the pack. Both Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis are wonderfully hilarious as Garrett's friends, Dan (Day) and Box (Sudeikis). Both have his best interests in mind, though both have different views on them. Dan is the more emotional type, who encourages Garrett to get in touch with his inner self. Box, on the other hand, just wants him to be happy and have a good time. If that means being in a long distance relationship, then so be it.
The best thing about Dan and Box isn't that they're funny. It's that they are useful. Characters such as these usually tend to serve one purpose: comedic relief. Even when they succeed, they eventually become an overbearing nuisance. That's because, after awhile, they don't serve a purpose. They stick their nose where it doesn't belong and make snide remarks, all in hopes of receiving a chuckle.
Dan and Box are different. Yes, they are the comedy relief. The difference here is they only provide the laughs when the story calls for it. If Garrett needs someone to talk to, they are there for him. If he needs a laugh, they provide one. If he needs advice, they do their best to assist him. They're his friends, actual people who care about one another. Not shallow, Hollywood vocal mimes who insist on stealing the show.
Which is why Going the Distance works so well. It doesn't feel like a typical, Hollywood romantic comedy. It may follow a few of its clichés, and even out warms its welcome. But the characters that preside in the story are not only likable, but feel real. These are people you'd hang out with, someone who you would date. Whenever a problem arises, you feel sympathy for them because you have connected with them. This is what separates Going the Distance from the usual fare, and what makes it one of the best romantic comedies in the past few years.
-Justin Oberholtzer
