Going the Distance (2010)

For the proliferate amount of romantic comedies that are unleashed each year, there are surprisingly few which manage to present a somewhat realistic look at love and relationships. To find one seemingly gimmick free and which avoids many of the genre's conventions is a rare occurrence, Going the Distance is very nearly this film, an unusual mix of Apatow style heart and profanity, crossed with a traditional rom-com.
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Drew Barrymore and Justin Long star as Erin and Garrett, two people who meet one summer and start a relationship, the trouble is that Erin is just in town on a scholarship, as soon as she has to move back to the other side of the country the pair face a decision, do they call it a day, or try and make it work? That is pretty much the crux of the film and it is to its credit that the filmmakers don't feel the need to chuck extra obstacles in the couples' path. It helps ground the relationship and film in a reality you don't see so much in these films, each person trying to find the balance with each other and their own lives and friends, and doesn't sugar coat the difficulty that accompanies long-distance relationships. 
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What is slightly disappointing then is that the film lacks the conviction to really set itself apart from the genre's conventions. It's almost as if for every moment they veered off track, the studio was pushing them back again, so while you have a more toned down and emotionally real central relationship, the periphery of the film is populated with variations on the stock rom-com friends, room mates and family. So cue the wacky best friends who must be the source of humour, and be offbeat and weird. Christina Applegate plays Erin's sister, and their relationship feels true and sweet in its own way, but her downtrodden husband and quirks again just seem pasted in from another film at times.
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Similarly the main beats of the film are very recognisable, but none of these is enough to spoil the film, this is largely thanks to the strong main performances from Barrymore and Long. They have a history away from the film and it shows, the two have real chemistry and play off each other well. Equally the rote supporting roles are all ably covered, and provide some funny moments, but it's more their juxtaposition with the story that feels disappointing.
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Overall I still enjoyed the film, it is sweet and feels like a more honest and mature relationship film than you typically see, it's just a shame that the makers didn't have the ability to fully realise this without concessions to the genre that ultimately make the film feel a bit disjointed.