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| Movie Review: Away We Go Alternate Title: When Bad Films Happen to Good People
Story: I saw this film five
days ago and the longer I wait to review it - the worse I feel about
it. Essentially, the film is one of those 'nothing happens' and there
is no 'there, there' jumbles. Directed by someone who should know better,
Sam Mendes, it is simply a mess. The writing couple
of Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida are
responsible for this drivel. Thirty somethings Burt and his girlfriend Verona,
find themselves pregnant. They were relying on Burt's parents to be
their support system but Burt's parents have other ideas. So what's
a couple to do? They go on a road trip to visit family and friends in
locales as diverse as Tucson, Montreal, Madison, Phoenix and Miami to
find - I guess to find themselves. Shock of shocks, their family and
friends do not turn out to be role models and Burt and Verona get so
darned down about the whole thing. Yes, there are some funny bits and yes, they
are likable. But after 30 minutes I wanted to slap them both upside
the head. They are judgmental, self-absorbed, insufferable and glib.
Oh, Burt and Verona, had you just clicked your heels and said 'There's
no place like home' we all could have saved two hours of our lives. Watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEp3NKG2U5U Acting: The entire cast is fine but is wasted in this
film, including: John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph, Jeff Daniels,
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Allison Janney, Chris Messina, Catherine O'Hara,
Paul Schneider, Carmen Ejogo, Jim Gaffigan Trivia: John Krasinski was born in Newton, MA and graduated
from Brown University in 2001 as an honors playwright with a B.A. in
English literature. Maya Rudolph is the daughter of
the late singer Minnie Riperton, best known for her 1975 #1 pop hit
"Lovin' You." At the end of the song, Riperton can be heard
singing "Maya Maya, Maya Maya...." She graduated from the
University of California at Santa Cruz with a BA in photography in 1994.
She is expecting her second child with film maker Paul Thomas Anderson.
Predilection: None. My friend wanted to see the film
so I met her. I still like my friend a lot.
Critters: None
Sex Spectrum: An attempt to be funny opening scene
in the bedroom of Burt and Verona.
Soundtrack: I do not remember. I think I tuned out.
Opening Titles: I do not remember this either.
Visual Art: Sam Mendes demands that his film depict
the surroundings of his characters well - and with this one exception,
I applaud him.
Theater Audience: More crowded than it should have
been.
Squirm Scale: I really did not like these people.
Drift Factor: Off the charts
Predictability Level: Over the top
Tissue Usage: I cried that I wasted time and money
and the popcorn wasn't even good.
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: Neither. Better films by director
Sam Mendes include: Road to Perdition, Revolutionary Road and American
Beauty.
Length: Under two hours but seemed longer
LOBO HOWLS: 3
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