Going the Distance introduces us to Garrett (Justin Long), a guy who has trouble committing. After getting dumped by his girlfriend after failing to get her a birthday gift, he goes out to a bar with his roommate, Dan (Charlie Day), and their friend, Box (Jason Sudeikis). There, he meets Erin (Drew Barrymore), a struggling journalist in New York who is interning at the New York Sentinel for the summer. The two hit it off and begin a whirlwind romance despite Erin having only six weeks left in the city before her internship ends and she has to fly back to San Francisco.

Rather than just leaving their time together as a fling, Erin and Garrett develop deeper feelings and decide to try their relationship long-distance until Erin can find a job in New York or Garrett can find employment in California. Along the way, there are plenty of obstacles, and as the months pass, Erin and Garrett need to decide if their relationship is worth giving up on their dreams of being together.

It’s really no surprise that Long and Barrymore have some pretty engaging chemistry on screen, given their history as a couple in real life, especially during the filming of this movie. Going the Distance offers a pretty realistic view of how challenging long-distance relationships can be, both physically and emotionally. Add in a three-hour time difference and temptations from other people, not to mention well-intentioned advice from friends and family, and it’s bound to strain even the strongest relationships.

Barrymore is her usual charming self, and while Erin toes the line of the ‘Cool Girl’ trope, she never dives completely in, which keeps her on a relatable level. Long doesn’t do anything overly special in this movie. I feel like I’ve seen his character several times before, but he and Barrymore seem to connect in a way that makes Garrett a tolerable leading man.

At the heart of Going the Distance is the romance between Garrett and Erin, but the supporting characters provide most of the laughs. Day and Sudeikis do what they do best and have some of the funniest scenes in the movie. As Erin’s sister, Christina Applegate is more subtle than Day and Sudeikis but still adds some salty, biting humor to the film. Together, they balance the more sentimental aspects of the script, and the raunchy humor is done right.

Going the Distance keeps you invested in the movie’s core relationship, thanks to the strong chemistry between Long and Barrymore and a smart script that elevates the film beyond your basic, fluffy rom-com.

Watched: 03/30/2020
Notable Song: If You Run by the Boxer Rebellion