MOVIE: GOING THE DISTANCE

When Garrett (Justin Long) and Erin (Drew Barrymore) meet at a New York hangout, they instantly bond over their shared love of Top-Gun and cult Atari video game Centipede. Following a whirlwind romance, and with Erin shortly returning to San Francisco for college, the pair impulsively commit to a long distance relationship. In many ways an irreverent companion piece to Mark Webb’s poignant 500 (Days of Summer), Going the Distance succeeds (for the most part) because director Nanette Burstein treats the central relationship with honesty and gravity, while punctuating the proceedings with irresistible warmth of spirit, snappy off-the-cuff dialogue and a wonderful sense of silliness. Real-life couple Long and Barrymore share genuine chemistry, while co-stars Christina Applegate, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis keep things enjoyably off-kilter . A rom-com you’ll be quoting months from now. (JH)