Going the Distance
Going the Distance is about Erin (Drew Barrymore) and Garrett (Justin Long) who hook up for a New York one nighter that turns out to be a care free summer fling that should have ended when Erin headed back to fall semester in California. Turns out neither wants the affair to end so a bi-coastal love affair ensues with all the typical frustrations. It doesn’t help that Erin resides with Corinne (Christina Applegate) her over protective sister and that Garrett has two scene stealing buddies in Dan (Charlie Day) and Box (Jason Sudeikis) who are trying to steer him clear of yet another train wreck of a relationship. The fact that Erin and Dan are chained to careers in imploding industries prohibits either from pulling up stakes and moving to the others turf. Going the Distance isn’t that far distant from so many other romantic comedies involving long distance relationships that are complete with cute titles and a predictable outcome. As a matter of fact the climax here gets downright hokey. What sets this little gem apart outside of the clear chemistry on screen between the two principle characters (Long and Barrymore used to be an item and clearly the break was amicable) is the frank, taboo-less dialogue about sex that produces wave after wave of belly laughs.