Starring: John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph, Carmen Ejogo, Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels, Allison Janney, Jim Gaffigan, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Josh Hamilton, Chris Messina, Melanie Lynskey, Paul Schneider

Directed by: Sam Mendes

Film In Focus

The Official Site of Away We Go

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Most movies that start with an oral sex scene usually don’t end up being this good. At the very least they usually don’t end up being as effectively sweet as they are laugh-out-loud funny. But from the second we meet Burt and Verona, the parents-to-be in Sam Mendes’ new film Away We Go, it’s clear that we’re in store for a unique and memorable adventure.

Away We Go is a poignant journey of self-discovery for a young couple entering parenthood. After finding out that they’ve got a little one on the way Burt and Verona realize that their lives are about to change and begin asking themselves what life is all about, where they belong and why haven’t they figured all of this stuff out by now. They decide to hit the road and do a little soul searching in hopes of finding a new life, a little perspective and a place to call home.

The film’s stars make it an easy trip to go on. John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph are both proven comedians but it was a welcome surprise to see them bring that same level of professionalism and authenticity to the scenes that required them to emote. We expect them to make us laugh but there is a scene or two here where the characters and the performances transcend the obvious and they give us the kind of genuine sentiment some people aren’t going to be anticipating.

In his trademarked shaggy mop and a brand new full-faced beard Krasinski looks like a missing Muppet optimistically bouncing through Away We Go. The perfect counter balanced to Rudolph’s even but sharp turn in the film. Their chemistry is natural and inviting… but perhaps a little too much so.

They are the perfect couple. They love each other unconditionally and never seem to fight. There’s actually a conversation in the film about how little they fight but I would call it a passionate debate before I would call it an argument. It occurred to me that in real life most couples do fight, even the ones that actually love each other, and I left the film wondering if this made Away We Go somewhat inauthentic. Would their ideal relationship be something that audiences wouldn’t be able to relate to?

In the end it didn’t bother me enough to ruin the movie. Plus, a couple that gets along is actually a refreshing change to the romantic comedies about people that separate for the sake of a fabricated conflict.

In their travels they visit a series of friends and family, alternate reality versions of the couples they could have become under different circumstances, ranging from the depths of depression to the heights of hilarity. I was blown away by the façade painted on by Chris Messina and Melanie Lynskey who play a happy couple desperate to fill a void in their life of a child of their own. At the same time you have scene-stealers like Allison Janney and Jim Gaffigan pushing the boundaries of crazy and annoying to borderline cartoon levels of hilarity. This is Burt and Verona’s crash course in what not to do, whom not to be, as they begin to find out who they really are.

Mendis is known for having this grand scale. Away We Go is beautiful, the production value and camera work are still stunning, but as the film’s story is scaled back its production is similarly held in check. It was interesting to see a familiar voice that’s normally booming restrain itself for a softer tale.

If you can’t relate at all to what these two are going through you can certainly find something in one of the vignettes of the families they visit. For better or worse you will see yourself in some part of this film making it the kind of experience that will haunt you for days. Once you get passed those issues you’ll find yourself remembering little pieces about a beautiful little film that is easily one of this years early standouts.

Rating: 8 out of 10 - I foolishly recommended this movie to my mother thinking that the sweet story would transcend generations and speak to any viewer that’s ever questioned their place in the universe. I say foolishly because the films opening scene, (oral sex baby detection) was the furthest thing from my mind but the first impression the film makes on new viewers there on recommendation from their bohemian children. Of course - she took my grandmother.

It’s almost as if it were one of those comically awkward sequences within the film itself. Or maybe it’s just some sort of cosmic punishment for being such a troublesome youth. Either way I’ll have some explaining to do at the next family barbeque.

It’s not an obvious addition though I would love to see it again as well as share it with Yeo. I would certainly rent it at least for the chance of listening to a commentary from Mendes. I’d be very interested in hearing his thoughts on going from something as intense as Revolutionary Road to something as light and sweet as Away We Go

Yeo and I have this conversation all the time. We love New York City but sometimes it gets to be too much. It’s expensive and loud and not ideal for buying property or making children. Whenever this comes up I always suggest moving to Hawaii. We’d be so far away from friends and family and there’s something sort of decadently obscene about living in a vacation spot but I just want to be there. I’ll have to settle for a vacation… once the kids are out of college. (uncontrollable weeping)

Okay so, Nic Cage’s Knowing comes out this week on DVD and I would be remiss if I didn’t at least ask you guys to check it out and/or give it a second chance. I thought this movie had some great themes and ideas that got lost behind Cage’s occasional overacting and the expectation around the world for his movies to suck pretty hard. Just pretend he’s the Grimace and start appreciating some of what’s going on in this film.

Did Ice Age 3 seriously tie Transformers 2 at the number 1 spot? That’s terrifying. I’ve got nothing against the Ice Age films, I actually even ejonyed the first one, I just had no interest in a third trip. Especially when the big joke in the commercials involves mistaken sex acts. You can’t put anything past the kids though. They want their cartoons - They get their cartoons.

Yeo and I opted to check out Public Enemies instead. You can read my full review over on the boards as well as get a look at a PE themed commission that I did for Brick Weekly. I was admittedly a little disappointed with the film. In one respect it’s nice that adults are getting something so substantial right in the middle of the blockbuster summer season but after laboring through the marathon storyline I was shocked that THIS was the big release of the weekend. The best that Hollywood could offer us between the giant robots and “the boy who lived�.

I’m looking forward to Bruno this coming week. Borat played throughout the weekend on the USA Network and it doesn’t hold up so well. (It was increasingly more difficult to choose that over the Twilight Zone marathon on SyFy.) It’ll be interesting if Bruno can stir up the same kind of worldwide controversy but remain relevant beyond a catch phrase.

That’s all for now but thanks for stopping by!