Living apart, or being in a long distance relationship, is tough. For some people it can be really frustrating. Long distance relationships definitely require strong trust, commitment and good communication.
Going the Distance follows Erin (Drew Barrymore), a 31-year-old single woman who is spending her summer at an internship as a reporter in New York, and Garrett (Justin Long), a record label employee.  
One night after Erin’s story is thrashed by her editor, she goes to a bar downtown and meets Garrett, who was just dumped by his girlfriend. They end the night at Garrett’s place.  
Erin a free-spirited woman, who goes to bars, plays video games and hangs out with lots of men. Garrett, meanwhile, is not happy with his job handling mainstream bands while he is more into indie music. He’s also the type away who shies away from making commitment.  
Initially, both Erin and Garrett just
want to have fun to get away from their stressful lives. But Garrett’s one-night stand with Erin unexpectedly changes
his perspective. Their relationship grows into something more than just a summer fling, as a strong bond developed between them.  
When the summer ends, Erin has to return to San Francisco to continue her study and Garrett has to stay in New York. But, neither of them wants the relationship to end.    
Despite the long distance, time difference and doubts from their family and friends, the couple tries to build a relationship through text messages and phone calls and online conversation involving webcams. The modern technology has enabled them to have a date in spite of the distance.  
But as their feelings for each other get deeper, they begin to realize that all the messages and phone calls are not enough. And they have to break the biggest barrier, the distance itself.  
The couple tries everything possible to work through the problem. Erin gets even more frustrated when she is forced to find a real job and has to face tight competition from other job seekers in the shrinking job market.
Erin and Garrett have to make a choice between their careers and their relationship.  
Will Erin relocate to New York although no job is available for her in the city? Or is it Garrett who will sacrifice his job so that he could get closer to his love? Can Erin and Garrett have a lasting relationship?  
In this film, friends and family play important roles since in this romantic comedy Erin and Garrett spend so much time apart.  
Christina Applegate (known for her roles in several TV series such as Married with Children and Jesse) plays Erin’s overprotective sister, Corinne, who has way too many concerns about her little sister’s career and love life.
Garrett, on the other hand, hangs out with his two best buddies, his workmate, Box (Jason Sudeikis), and his roommate, Dan (Charlie Day), who likes to eavesdrop any conversation in Garret’s room.  
Box and Dan are concerned with Garrett’s long distance relationship and they also feel that their friends don’t spend his time with them anymore.  
Barrymore and Long seems to have good chemistry in this film, while the supporting actors do their jobs well.  
But it is Applegate who steals the show and brings a lot of laughs through her character – both as sister and mother. She maintains control over the lives of her younger sister and daughter, while doing crazy things at the same time.  
The first 30 minutes of the film are a bit slow, but the film gets better when Erin and Garrett begin their long distance relationship. Even though the couple is thousands of miles apart, humor and romance are maintained.  
The film, however, features too many rude and explicit words and jokes which are unnecessary.  
 The always loveable Barrymore has come a long way in the rom-com world, playing an American sweetheart in several films such as The Wedding Singer alongside Adam Sandler, Never Been Kissed, 50 First Dates and Music and Lyrics.
 But after those successful films, Going the Distance is surely not Barrymore’s best performance.  

Verdict: An easy-to-forget flick for couples in long distance, coast-to-coast relationships only.

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