Going the Distance

3/5

Bold, funny, and romantic. “Going the Distance” is a perfect weekend movie treat!

I’ve been meaning to watch this ever since I saw its trailer when I watched “A-Team” some three months ago. I have to say that for a rom-com super fan like me, the movie didn’t disappoint.

Having troubles with commitment and understanding the female language, Garrett (Justin Long) was dumped by his girlfriend. Trying to cheer him up, his friends took him out to a bar and there he met Erin (Drew Barrymore). Erin is an intern at a major New York newspaper company and she’s only staying in New York for summer. The two hit off right away and began a no strings attached summer fling, dating every night and breakfasts during mornings. Their characters fit perfectly. But summer ended and Erin has to go back to San Francisco. Realizing that they’re both crazy in love with each other, they decided to continue what they have and bring it to the next level though now, they have different time zones and miles of distance between them. Can they make it work?

In my opinion, this was the kind of romantic comedies meant for young adults. It veered away from the clichés and mushiness of typical rom-com movies we’ve gone accustomed to.There’s a sense of balance in this movie that will make guys like it as well. The usually dragging and often times predictive plot of a romantic comedy was made honest and more realistic by the repetitive use of vulgar and cursing words in the script.

I have to say that this movie’s script is admirable because it didn’t flood its audience with tons of mushy, verging to yucky professions of love through words. It’s also noteworthy to point out that the movie’s story was perfectly executed in the big screen. Though what was depicted of the difficulties and struggles of a long distance relationship in the movie was not half as much of how hard it really is, I have to say that the movie did quite a great job in trying to show its conflicts. People should remember that this is a romantic comedy and as much as it tried to be the mature kind, it still is a romantic comedy. Thus, expecting a plot that will enumerate and make a rundown of the problems that will arise in a situation like this is a no no. The movie balanced it out with enough humour to make it feel light and fun. After all, this is a feel good movie. It’s supposed to make you feel good and not burden you further.

The on-screen, very natural chemistry of real life sweethearts Drew Barrymore and Justin Long provided the biggest come on of this movie. It gets kinda dragging sometime but the lovers’ chemistry makes you feel as if what you’re watching is really happening. They’re laughs, body language, and most importantly their acting is so natural and genuine. It very much helped the plot of the story. It provided authenticity to the otherwise very predictable storyline. Drew and Justin’s acting were also great. No overreacting expressions and half-baked what the hell is that acting all about. The material perfectly fit Drew and Justin.

The only downside of this movie for me was the conclusion. It started fine and the stability carried over up to the last 20 minutes of the movie. Important turning points were all present and never would you feel as if the story is being rushed. There’s proper timing and the build up of the love story was properly executed. But something went wrong with the movie’s ending. Though I liked the fact that they didn’t show a one month after scene to show what really happened to the characters and left it to the moviegoers’ imagination, the entire ending appeared to me as a hastened one. That all of a sudden, that’s it, let’s do this, end of story. The resolution to the story’s conflict was resolved so easy that you’ll have yourself questioning, why did they even bother to make it as a problem when they could have done that early on? It somehow betrayed the characters themselves for at the end, you don’t need to be a genius to figure out what should be done to make the relationship work after all.

Despite its glitch in the resolution part, I still recommend this movie especially for young adults like me. The movie’s honesty and not to mention superb wittiness makes it one of the best, matured romantic comedies I’ve ever seen. It’s the kind of movie that will make you laugh and ponder while watching. It’s totally a breather from all the overly dramatic infatuated kind of romantic comedies. This movie will entertain you and will definitely remind you the hardships, struggles, and pain of being in a long distance relationship. The movie is a reminder of the greater responsibilities when you are in this kind of relationship. Yes, it is a challenge to make it work but in the face of true love, no amount of time apart or miles and oceans between you can ever hinder its power. Especially in this day and age of technology, long distance relationships are bearable. The key to make it work is ultimately, TRUST and COMMITMENT. Without these two, a long distance relationship and relationships in general is doomed. Finally, this movie will make you realize that if it’s true love, fate will make its way.

He's Just Not That Into You

4/5 stars

Filled with enough drama and obvious humor with sufficient mix of fine acting, every chick flick fan in town shouldn’t miss this movie at all! I’m a self-confessed one so first day, first screening, I went and watch it at Gateway Cineplex 6.

Based on the self-help book by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, He’s Just Not That Into You is a story of love and relationships in general. It tells us that men after all, were not that complicated. If he didn’t call you back after the first date or didn’t bother at all to call you after the first encounter, no need to obsess about figuring out why he didn’t call. It’s as simple as what the title implies.

What is very very remarkable about the movie is the way it was adapted. The book is a self-help one and how they created a wonderful plot and how the lives of each character are intertwined is awesome.

Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin) is a girl who longs for love but lives under the impression of our society’s stereotypes that if a guy does this, that means he likes you. Obsessing about why her latest date Conor (Kevin Connolly) never called again after the first date, she started stalking him and laying down all the possible reasons why he never called. In a sudden work of fate she met Alex (Justin Long) who happens to be a friend of Connor’s, Alex then enlightened Gigi of the reasons why his friend never called and gave her pieces of advice why most of the time, men never calls after the first date. On the other hand, Gigi’s officemates have their own relationship problems with the men in their lives. Beth (Jennifer Aniston) is committed into a long term relationship with Neil (Ben Affleck) but doesn’t want to marry her. Neil is friends with Ben (Bradley Cooper) who was forced into marriage by his wife Janine (Jennifer Connelly), who’s also an officemate of Beth and Gigi. Ben felt that his marriage was a torture. He then met and slept with aspiring singer and yoga instructor, Anna (Scarlet Johansson), who’s friends with Mary (Drew Barrymore), a girl who doesn’t mind looking for Mr. Right in Myspace. Together, they unraveled the ecstasy and misery of being “in a relationship”.

He’s Just Not That Into You is one of the best chick flicks I’ve ever seen for it doesn’t only entertain but it also tackles many relationship issues that almost everyone can learn from. This movie is not only enjoyable but somehow, it answers basic issues and questions about love, relationships, dealing with the opposite sex as well as the same sex that we tend to obsess about. This movie also reminds us of how simple some things in life can be if we just go with the flow and stop obsessing about it. If it happens, it happens. As easy as that. Ultimately, the movie proves to us how complex relationships gets but no matter how crazy and problematic they are, all of us still longs to be “in a relationship”.

There are two lessons I’ve deduced from the movie that I personally can relate to: first, if you’re single and you’ve tried almost every possible way you can think of on how to find love and the man for you, maybe it’s time to shift focus. Maybe it’s time to move on from looking for love and believe that there are other things bigger and brighter for you and love will come eventually. Sometimes we are so overshadowed by the idea of looking for love that we are missing a lot on the joys and surprises it gives us when love is the one who’ll come knocking at our doors.

Finally, love comes to those who never tire to hope, who never lose faith that someday, somehow, that special someone who will treat you as the sole exception to all his rules will sweep you off your feet and prove to you that you are capable of loving and being loved.

He’s Just Not That Into You is not only a movie worthy of your time and money but more so, it is a reminder to us all that no amount of disappointments, failures, heartaches, and pain can ever stop us from risking it all for LOVE’s sake.

Music and Lyrics

4/5 stars

"Music and Lyrics" was also good. Drew Barrymore was in her usual wit and she was really fabulous in this movie. Hugh Grant...uhm.. I never thought that he knew how to sing but he's good. His voice is really favorable and it's more nakaka in love than Ewan McGregor's. Though the movie was predictable, I can say that the dialogues were great and it helped a lot in moving forward the story. Drew and Hugh's chemistry was fantastic. It's the one that could defeat the Grant-Roberts in Notting Hill and even the Grant-Bullock chemistry in Two Weeks Noticed. I love the songs used in this film. Actually, I have downloaded "Pop Goes My Heart" and of course, "Way Back In To Love". These two songs were part of the most played playlist in my iPod. Over all, the movie was great and it's worth every penny.