Released Date: September 3rd
GOING THE DISTANCE is a romantic comedy about long distance relationships, the pros & cons and the ups and downs. This film brings former lovers back together – on screen. Drew Barrymore and Justin Long were an item back in 2007. Then they broke up the next year and reunited in 2009 before signing up for GOING THE DISTANCE. The rumor has it that they broke up again for the second time in July 2010.
The most important element for any romantic comedy is the chemistry between the leading actor and actress. Despite being a couple in real life I have troubles buying the idea of Drew Barrymore and Justin Long as a lovey-dovey couple. Perhaps that’s why they broke up again. On the other hand casting Drew Barrymore as a 31 year old summer intern at a newspaper is far-fetched. And Justin Long doesn’t resemble anyone working at a record label company but more like a sales clerk at a second hand record shop.
As for long distance relationships this film fails to offer any answers. I know from first hand experiences what long distance relationships are all about. It’s difficult enough to keep a relationship going when two people live in the same city, let alone being separated by hundreds of miles, sometimes by the ocean and the worst is opposite time zones.
Half way through the film, Justin Long begins to question the legitimacy of his relationship with Drew Barrymore and says, “Seeing you once every four months is not a relationship!” Even though they talk on the phone and send text messages to each other all day long, every day. When you are feeling down and need a shoulder to cry on, oops! Your special someone is all the way on the other side of the planet. And when you have a bad day and just need a few words of encouragements you’d better call early because your better half is 3 hours ahead of you and will be dead asleep when you get off work.
Thanks to the advanced technology of 21st century. We’re now able to stay connected at all time. However, keeping in touch via internet is still not the same as being in bed together. There’s a scene where Drew Barrymore and Justin Long try to have phone sex. Obviously they lack imaginations and cannot build sexual fantasies by talking dirty on the phone.
Usually I love a happy ending since I like to see the bright side in life and prefer to be positive about everything in life. GOING THE DISTANCE gives us this happy ending that’s less convincing and almost simplifies the complication of being in a long distance relationship. I’m saying this based on personal experiences. However, this is not a chick flick. Go see it for yourself and perhaps you’ll see it differently.
I do believe that every relationship is different. If you and your long distance partner share the same vision where your future will be then you’re likely to be together in the same city in the long run. I’ve learned from my past experience. When you’re in a long distance relationship you should try not to be controlling and trust your significant other. Otherwise this relationship will drive you crazy. Long distance relationships or not every relationship needs some serious TLC and efforts to make it to work!
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