Going the Distance

Stars: Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Christina Applegate, Ron Livingston

Director: Nanette Burstein

Romcoms hit a new low with this crass two-hander which aims for the lowest common denominator at every opportunity. This is all very well if fun is the result, but the only major laugh is the one in the trailer. Going the Distance hardly gets past the first lap.

Nothing rings true about this very raunchy romance between pop group handler Garrett (Long) and would-be journalist Erin (Barrymore), two ratty people who hit it hard and heavy for six weeks in the Big Apple, and find it tough being apart when she has to return to San Francisco.

Garrett has two beer-soaked friends. who might well have been discarded from The Hangover, while Erin has a sister (a demeaning role for Applegate) who enjoys 'dry-humping' her discontented husband (Livingston), but is suspicious of Garrett's intentions.

Dialogue is 'extremely graphic' (the film's description, not mine) and quite unsuitable for the New York warmth presumably aimed for. Barrymore and Long do what the script requires, but these are irritable (and irritating) rather than likeable people; the film has sex on its mind rather than love, and that's its undoing.

David Quinlan

USA 2010. UK Distributor: Warner Brothers. Colour by deluxe.
103 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 1, Swearing 2.

Review date: 05 Sep 2010