"It's filthy, funny and kind of sweet, if not quite up to the level of Judd Apatow's oeuvre in the burgeoning field of R-rated comedies with heart. You will laugh and blush in equal measure. You will not, however, read any of its best lines here, as they are all unprintable. It's filled with the pot jokes, casual hookups and the glorification of prolonged adolescence so common to the Apatovian canon. But in its heart of hearts, it's as old-fashioned as they come." Michael O'Sullivan WASHINGTON POST "Going the Distance is a reminder of the sorry state of the rom-com, where gross scenes and easy-to-write trash talk have replaced smart dialogue." Linda Barnard TORONTO STAR "Self-conscious and filled with coarse vulgarity, as a romantic comedy, it's a disappointment." Susan Granger SUSANGRANGER "Might be the most honest and accomplished romantic comedy so far this year." Dustin Putman DUSTINPUTMAN "The laughs kept me involved in Going the Distance, but after I left the theater, it occurred to me that this slight comedy hadn't gone very far at all." Chris Hewitt ST PAUL PIONEER PRESS "A foul-mouthed rom-com carved from Apatowian intent, but it feels more like a sketch of a movie than the real thing. This is not to say "Going the Distance" totally slips into genre purgatory." Tom Horgen MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE "In some ways the film feels as though it has a split-personality disorder. It's trying to be romantic, but also funny in that The Hangover kind of a way. I suppose that's supposed to mean that it will be romantic for the ladies, but the guys will also think it's hilarious. Of course, what that really means is that by trying to be both, it's never quite as romantic or as funny as it could have been. Thanks to a likable couple in the lead roles and a great supporting cast, this is an enjoyable movie, but it's good instead of great." Scott Nash THREE MOVIE BUFFS

"There's something authentic in the way that Going the Distance renders a modern-day relationship and one conducted from a distance at that: It tries not to sugarcoat the emotional and sexual frustrations that such a setup unleashes. Which may be why the too-neat ending detracts from what is otherwise an entertaining, if a little predictable, romantic comedy. Bottom line? Suffice it to say that Going the Distance keeps the journey interesting." S Jhoanna Robledo COMMON SENSE MEDIA "The latest loathsome exercise in "cute" crudeness to slime its way onto movie screens plays like the work of soulless hacks who put a conventional romantic-comedy script through some sort of Judd Apatow computer program before enacting it for the cameras. This premise has promise, but the details and execution sabotage one's sympathy at every turn. The movie does get one thing right, however: its title. You'll want to put as much distance as possible between yourself and this abomination." John Beifuss COMMERCIAL APPEAL The movie doesn't know whether it wants to be sweet or dirty: Nora Ephron or Judd Apatow." JACKIEKCOOPER "A charming, but ultimately forgettable romantic comedy. At least this time, there’s no sperm donor involved." Stephen Silver THE TREND "There are many components of this film that make it work. First and foremost is the chemistry between Barrymore and Long. "Going The Distance" is absolutely hilarious in parts, and also very poignant. It can also be stupid, unfortunately, but with a male writer, I suppose there will always be some disgusting bathroom humor." Jeanne Kaplan KAPLAN VS KAPLAN "Written by a man, Geoff LaTulippe, and directed by a woman, Nanette Burstein, who wrote and directed the acclaimed documentary "American Teen" from 2008, "Going The Distance" makes almost all the right moves, and speaks nearly all the right dialogue. Barrymore just keeps getting better with age, both with her looks and her comedic timing and the writing soars above the commonplace." David Kaplan KAPLAN VS KAPLAN

The Inside Story A raucous and romantic comedy with both heart and heat, "Going the Distance" tells the story of what can happen when a beer and barbecued wings fueled one-night stand accidentally turns into something more. When Erin and Garrett hook up, their intentions are to have a few fun and frisky weeks before she heads back to grad school in San Francisco and he stays in New York City. But when Erin’s about to board a plane for home, they both realize they have developed deeper feelings for one another, and they don’t want whatever it is they have together to end. So, they decide to give the 'long distance thing' a go. "Going the Distance" stars Drew Barrymore and Justin Long as the cross-country couple whose booty calls actually take place over the phone. "I liked this story because it had a lot of humor and it was sexy, but it was also surprisingly emotional. I couldn’t stop thinking about these characters and I really cared about why or how they were or weren’t able to work out their issues. Any story that deals with the complexities of a relationship in a very comical and contemporary way totally interests me," 2010 Golden Globe winner Barrymore (TV'S "Grey Gardens") revealed. "I’d been reading a lot of romantic comedies," 2006 Film Discovery Jury Award winner Long ("The Sasquatch Dumpling Gang") recalls, "and this one really stood out for me in the sense that it was much more raw and realistic, and very funny, too. It didn’t hold back at all." Coming from documentaries, where I capture real life, I wanted to direct a movie that would feel as real as possible: people do swear, and they say what’s on their mind," says 2000 Directors Guild of America winner Nanette Burstein ("On The Ropes). "It was such a fresh story and the premise was so natural. I really responded to the material and I felt that a lot of people would relate to it." Producer Adam Shankman, who choreographed Allan Moyle's 1992 film "The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag" agrees. "It’s a pretty honest look at the perils of the long distance relationship, which can be really hard no matter how much the people involved adore each other." Shankman and his producing partner, Jennifer Gibgot, also found the realistic, mature nature of the comedy refreshing. "It was very exciting to both Jennifer and me because we hadn’t ventured into that territory, and the truth of the matter is, my sense of humor leans a bit toward the subversive," Shankman offered. "There’s a tremendous amount of freedom when you’re shooting a scene, whether it’s a love scene, a fight scene, whatever, if the characters can talk the way that people really talk," "Step Up 3D" producer Gibgot notes. The screenplay was penned by first-time feature writer Geoff LaTulippe, who didn’t have to look far for inspiration. "The idea for the story actually came: and this would be shocking to a lot of people; from a night of drinking," he says with little emotion. He and executive producer Dave Neustadter were kicking around ideas when Neustadter mentioned that he had just gotten out of a long distance relationship. "Dave had a bunch of stories about what he’d gone through, and neither of us could remember the subject being the focus of a movie before, certainly not a comedy. We thought it was full of comedic set ups and could actually bear out some really heartfelt stuff, too, but with an edge. Real life has an edge to it." The writer had no problem pushing the boundaries when it came to the scenarios and the dialogue. In addition to his romance, Garrett has a bromance going on with the other significant others in his life, best friends Box and Dan. LaTulippe put these characters in a few unexpected, if utterly real, situations. The other significants in Garrett's life are played by rising comedy stars Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day. "It's not the '50s anymore, we’re not afraid to see women’s knees and hear F-bombs, and it seemed like anything that was funny was fair game in the script," Day says with a smile. "There was a script? I didn’t read a script," kids Sudeikis ("What Happens in Vegas"). "The world is populated by people with a sardonic perspective, and Geoff is definitely one of them," Shankman offered. "The story was not overly earnest, because it has characters who have that sense of irony, who know they’re living in the real world and doing what real people do to try to stay together in what’s not the best of circumstances. That includes maintaining their sense of humor." Producer Garrett Grant (unit production manager on "Shallow Hal" & "Stuck On You") contends: "With today’s economic environment making it even harder on young people who aren’t established in their careers, it’s a struggle to make things work when you don’t have as many choices. Not having the luxury of working wherever you want or the money to travel back and forth very often is tough, so this really hits home." On-screen chemistry is arguably never more important in film than in a romantic comedy, but if the filmmakers were going to push the comedy envelope, good chemistry between all of the cast members would be critical, especially since it was Burstein's plan to encourage improvisation on the set. "I really wanted to loosen things up and let it feel as real as possible, so I knew we’d have to cast actors that are not only tremendously talented but also funny in their own right." "Old Dogs" Executive Producer Grant recalls, "All the stars literally aligned for us." Gibbon ("The Wedding Planner") says that, "Because Erin and Garrett spend so much time apart, the friends and family are really important characters and we wanted to surround Drew and Justin with an amazing supporting cast, with everybody bringing something funny to the table." The role of aspiring journalist Erin required Barrymore (Gertie in "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial") to be both tough and vulnerable, with a smartass sense of humor. "Drew has often played an America’s sweetheart type of character, but Erin is strong-willed, she curses, she speaks her mind freely and is really on equal footing with the guys. Drew played it without losing any of her charm," Burstein stated. "Erin is a very strong girl; she can go to bars and win at video games and hang with the boys," Barrymore ("Boys on the Side") offered. "But she put a relationship ahead of her dreams before and resented it, so she’s not going to do it again. I really liked playing someone with a sharp tongue and wit and honesty. I loved her bravado." "Being an educated woman of around thirty, still interning in a shrinking job market, there’s a lot of competition and that’s frustrating," Shankman said. "So, like a lot of young professionals, Erin goes out after work to blow off steam. She plays as hard as she works. I think Drew felt that was a refreshing change of pace and she was fantastic in the role." On the receiving end of Erin’s affections is Garrett, an A&R scout who’s passionate about cool, indie music, but who’s being forced to handle much more commercial bands at the label where he works. He’s also something of a self-saboteur when it comes to serious relationships. Garrett is played by Long, whom Shankman describes as "a kind of 'every man' who guys can relate to and girls really like." "Garrett’s kind of stuck in a rut, both professionally and personally," According to Long, "He’s a low-level executive trying to gain a foothold in an industry that, in his opinion, has kind of sold out." Shankman perceives that to him, "both Erin and Garrett are really honest, flawed characters. .Garrett behaves pretty badly at times, Erin behaves pretty badly at other times, and they both behave selfishly. But even though life is giving them an 'out', they’re honestly trying to make a go of it before they decide if it’s too big of a commitment. And while humor infuses almost everything, the emotional scenes with Justin and Drew really anchor the film." Throughout the movie, both Erin and Garrett have the support: and skepticism; of friends and, in Erin’s case, family. Christina Applegate plays Corinne, Erin’s overprotective sister who is less than thrilled with her little sister’s romantic choices, both past and present. Applegate ("The Sweetest Thing") infused her character with a backstory in which "it had really just been the two of them for many years; I thought perhaps Corinne had kind of raised Erin," the 1987 & '89 Young Artist Award winner speculates. "Therefore, she’s very controlling of her world as well as her sister, but at the same time she has her own moments where she’s a little naughty." "Christina and Drew were great," Burstein declared. "Even though this was their first time working together, they absolutely felt like real sisters to me." Barrymore agrees. "I loved working with Christina. She was totally inspiring and made me laugh all the time." On the opposite coast, Garrett is frequently flanked by best friends Box and Dan, who like Erin but aren’t sure they like Garrett when he’s with her; or more specifically, once she’s left and the constant texting and phone calls become a major distraction for him. Box, works at the record label with Garrett. Sudeikis says, "Box is Garrett’s cutting, know it all best friend. "Thanks to all the technology that makes it possible to date someone who is miles away, Box is a little frustrated by the fact that his friend isn’t really present, even though he’s right in front of him." Charlie Day plays Dan, Garrett’s roommate and earnest but dimwitted friend, who tries to further Garrett’s romance by taking advantage of the fact that the walls in their apartment are paper thin. "Dan often listens to whatever’s going on in Garrett’s room, and either comments through the wall or plays music that he feels suits the occasion. He’s not only his best friend, he’s his life DJ." "Jason portrayed Box with great acerbic wit, and Charlie was all sweetness as Dan, so the way they played off each other was really funny," Gibgot says. "The trio of guys felt very genuine. They had fun and truly connected with one another and I think that comes through in the movie." Adding to the mix of men in the film are comic actors Jim Gaffigan (Coach Murphy in "17 Again"), who plays Corinne’s husband, Phil, and Ron Livingston ("The Time Traveler's Wife"), who plays Will, Garrett’s music biz boss. "We really had a tremendous cast," Burstein commends. "They were even funnier than I could have ever imagined. Being a first-time feature director, I felt extremely lucky." "Going the Distance" was shot entirely on location in and around New York City, with a second unit crew capturing the necessary San Francisco exteriors after the main production had wrapped. "Since it’s a movie about a long distance relationship, the cities that the characters live in have to become footholds for them. I’ve always loved the romance of both New York and San Francisco," Shankman revealed. "You can feel alone and at the same time be part of a community because you’re surrounded by life, everywhere you go." "We were lucky enough to be filming in New York City in the summertime," Grant says. "The weather was absolutely gorgeous and the city is so visual and has so much character." What It's All About

Erin's wry wit and unfiltered frankness charm newly single Garrett over beer, bar trivia and breakfast the next morning. 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. But 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 and Dan, 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, wants to keep Erin from heading down an all-too-familiar road. But despite the opposite coasts, the nay-saying friends, family and a few unexpected temptations, the couple just might have found something like love, and with the help of a lot of texting, sexting and late-night phone calls, they might actually go the distance.

The Verdict "I get the distinct feeling that Nanette Burstein's "Going The Distance" would have been far more successful and appealed to a wider audience if it hadn't been so down right excessively potty mouthed and populated with characters that are not really likeable. There's a constant barrage of the 'F' word (think Vince Vaughn & Jon Favreau in 2001's "Made"), over the top 'guy talk' that is, in the main, downright degrading and there's an unnecessary scene involving one character taking a 'dump' with the door open (for far too long). I've said it before, I am no prude, so don't go jumping to conclussions because I'll shoot you down in flames. "Going The Distance" is supposed to be a romantic comedy about a couple who are madly in love but seperated by the vast expanse of the American continent, with him in New York and her in San Francisco. I am a tremendous admirer of Drew Barrymore and while she is, to be brutally honest, the only shining light in the film, it would have been a far brighter one if the tone of her dialogue had been ratchetted down a notch or two. It takes the edge off her performance. Perhaps the problem really lies with the Geoff LaTulippe script. It's as though he's given the female leads balls and then pumped them full of testosterone. As for Applegate (another actress I have admired since her days in "Married with Children") her performance as Corinne falls way short of the mark. As for those critics who comment on the chemistry between Barrymore and Long, to them I say: Fucking wake up! Why wouldn't you expect chemistry. In real life they are a fucking item! And as for Justin Long; he should stick to playing a chipmunk. "Going The Distance" is purportedly a comedy too. Well you can count the laughs on one hand. "Going The Distance" did provide me with something to smile about. By films end I was left scratching my head with one hand and my nuts with the other. I had achieved something most scientists had always thought was physically impossible: Unless you are a Chimpanzee. Sadly I must agree. "Going The Distance" had made a monkey out of me. If only I'd "kept my distance!" Despite my harshness, I do fully realize there are cinemagoers who will get something out of this tacky little film. 2 1/2 STARS." Who's Who?

Drew Barrymore Justin Long Charlie Day Jason Sudeikis Christina Applegate Ron Livingston Oliver Jackson-Cohen Jim Gaffigan Natalie Morales Kelli Garner June Diane Raphael Rob Riggle Sarah Burns Terry Beaver Matt Servitto Leighton Meester

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Erin Garrett Dan Box Corinne Will Damon Phil Brandy Brianna Karen Ron Harper Professor Hugh Amy

The Crew Directed by Nanette Burstein Written by Geoff LaTulippe Produced by Jennifer Gibgot/Garrett Grant/Adam Shankman Original Music by Mychael Danna Cinematography by Eric Steelberg Film Editing by Peter Teschner Casting by Juel Bestrop/Kathleen Chopin/Seth Yanklewitz Production Design by Kevin Kavanaugh Art Direction by John Kasarda & Peter Rogness Set Decoration by David Schlesinger Costume Design by Catherine Marie Thomas Run Time 103 minutes Rated MA15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2010 - Roadshow Films - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2010 The Movie Pages & impact Internet Services. All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian and International Copyright. Trademark Laws and Intellectual Property Rights apply.