“Going the Distance” for love

Going the Distance offers a realistic view of contemporary romance without all of the frills and high jinks found in romantic comedies.  Not to be missed, Going the Distance is rated R for sexual content including dialogue, language throughout, some drug use and brief nudity, runs 103 minutes and is a Warner Bros. film. 

The movie’s producer is Adam Shankman who fashioned the careers of many A-list actors, among them, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Lopez, Zac Ephron and Channing Tatum.

As a reviewer, I was most struck by was the honest language between the characters.  Typically, in many relationships, it is difficult to get to an honest place.  To that observation, Shankman replied, “One of the most important things going into this movie that we talked about -- before there was even a cast-- was the fact that there had to be a lot of honesty in the movie and it couldn’t be anything else.  In adult relationships, honesty is key, especially with people who live in modern places and are in urban environments; they have to be honest.  So, you can’t do a good comedy without it coming from something that is very grounded and real at its core.  This was always very important; that the honesty be present.”

Erin (Drew Barrymore) doesn’t have the best track record with love relationships.  She’s unfiltered and frank which hasn’t always landed her the man of her dreams.  Similarly, Garrett (Justin Long) is just getting over his last relationship when the two meet over beer and bar trivia.

Their chemistry sparks a full-fledged summer fling, but neither expects it to last once Erin heads home to San Francisco and Garrett stays behind for his job in New York City. 

When six weeks of romping through the city inadvertently become meaningful, neither is sure they want it to end.  And, while Garrett’s friends, Box (Jason Sudeikis) and Dan (Charlie Day), joke about his pre-flight calorie-cutting and his full-time relationship with his cell phone, they don’t like losing their best drinking buddy to yet another rocky romance.  At the same time, Erin’s high-strung, overprotective married sister, Corrine (Christina Applegate), wants to keep Erin from heading down an all-too-familiar road.

During conversations promoting the film, Justin Long had this to say --

What was the most challenging aspect of this film? “I would say, some of the naked stuff was a little uncomfortable but I think most challenging was trying to keep a straight face around these guys… [referring to the other actors]. Yeah, I think a lot of the intimate sexual stuff around a room full of 30-40 grown men was a challenge.”

Do you ever veer off script in a scene?  “When you see something that’s in the script, is it something you think about or it is just part of the role and it’s just one more part of the job.”

What about the kissing scenes…?  “It was like necessary.  The first kiss for us was, in the movie, was kind of like sloppy, we were drunk (laughter).  Oh, we were stoned, I’m so sorry (more laughter). We were stoned so it was so easy to do.  No, just kidding.  We were so comfortable in every scene. 

Does that mean you didn’t have the jitters for the very first kiss in the movie as well?  “When you know you have that first kiss and it’s an on screen kiss, is it something you think about or is it just part of the acting job.  I think you just hope that you’re invested in the scene hopefully and sometimes it can be a surprise that you’ve never kissed anyone before, you’ve just met recently and you know people have different ways of kissing, sometimes it can be very jarringly uncomfortable with very little movement involved and sudden movement from the tongue.”

Drew Barrymore responded to the following --   

This character has several layers namely she is honest, sassy and a modern day woman.  Did you relate to her on a personal level?  “Yeah,  I wanted to play someone who could relate to those who try to make distance work in relationships and someone who can hang out with ‘the guys.’  This character is funny and I feel like I relate to that kind of person right now in my life.  So it was a pleasure for me to get to improv and just work in a much more free-flowing way; where you could play around and you didn’t have to be censored because you have a R rating and that to me was just an absolute pleasure.

What was most challenging about this role?  “Well, one of the challenges I was most excited about was doing the ‘drunk scene’ and what type of drunk is.  What could be spontaneous and what would ‘Erin’ say if she was really angry?  How she would just let loose and it was the most fun day at work ever. Because I just really let loose.”

And the kissing scenes with Justin?  “You know, lucky for me that Justin is a good kisser.  So it was like, ‘thank God.’  [In film] the worst is when you are kissing someone who is not a good kisser and you’re trying to make it look good.  You feel as if you’re just working on your own.  I mean, at least,  this was a real team effort, you know.”

Going the Distance touches upcoming today’s economic challenges while providing a light escape for moviegoers - “Yeah, I mean, when it comes to going to the movies, I personally want something that I can escape into and sort of forget what’s going on around me but I don’t want to lose sight of being able to relate to something [as well]. So, for me, I just want that beautiful ‘striking balance’ and I feel like this film has that. I’m laughing but I’m crying and relating and emotional about it.  I feel like it gets surprisingly real but then it does come in and sort of save you and make you laugh.” 

 

Listen to
Talk2SV Radio

Living Healthier,
Living Longer
A personal
health journey
by Sandra Varner

Watch
Talk2SV TV


Annette Benning
The Kids Are All Right

Talk2SV Teasers

Scented Dream
is the new book series from Jacqueline Turner Banks centered on the remote Dogon Tribe of Mali in West Africa, described as a sweeping and suspenseful journey, immersed in the nuances, complexities, joys and fears of love stories that never fail to surprise readers.  

From this backdrop, the writer has created an erotic paranormal, interracial romance between Ian, a Dogon tracker and the strikingly beautiful Nesta.

Scented Lust
(ISBN #978-1448698080)
$5.99;
Scented Dreams
(ISBN #978-1451530438)
$6.99,
from Sugar and Spice Press. 
www.sugarnspicepress.com
www.dogon-hunter.com 

GET LOW - Oscar winner Robert Duvall (Crazy Heart, Tender Mercies) brings us another masterful performance in this epic presentation of one man’s life, haunted by a 40-year-old indiscretion.

People say Felix Bush (Duvall) has done all manner of unspeakable things --that he's killed in cold blood; that he's in league with the Devil; that he has strange powers-- and they avoid him like the plague. One day Felix rides to town with a shotgun and a wad of cash, saying he wants to buy a funeral, a “living funeral,” in which anyone who ever had heard a story about him will come to tell it, while he takes it all in.  GET LOW costars include: Bill Murray, Lucas Black, Sissy Spacek and Bill Cobbs. 

THE HELP - Multiple TONY
Award winner and Academy
Award nominee Viola Davis (Doubt, Fences), Cicely Tyson (Why Did I Get Married 2, Bustin Loose) along with Aunjanue Ellis (Notorious, Ray) are cast in the film version of the NY Times best-selling novel, “The Help,” from Kathyryn Stockett, her debut effort.