10 Best Stove Lighter

Best Stove Lighter in 2023

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Movie Review: Away We Go

Award winning director Sam Mendes takes a shot at lighter material than he's previously handled, does he strike gold or strike out?

Away We Go tells the story of Burt and Verona, played by John Krasinski (TV's The Office) and Maya Rudolph (who appeared on Saturday Night Live from 2000-2020.) They are a loving unmarried couple in their early thirties, who still haven't really settled down into any kind of permanent life yet. When Maya becomes pregnant the pair, knowing that they don't want to stay where they are, set out to try and find some direction and a home to raise their baby. This results in a series of trips o the two can visit relatives and friends in various locations (ranging from Phoenix to Montreal) and see if they want to move to any of those places. As they go to each location and spend time with each couple they've known from earlier in their lives they see quickly that nobody has the "perfect life" that they are seeking. However the pair soldier on, ever hopeful of finding the right place for them.

While the film is undoubtedly a comedy it would be misleading to call Away We Go a romantic comedy, because it's not really about Burt and Verona's relationship. The couple are rock solid and each is there for the other in exactly the way they need, even though Burt doesn't always know the best way to express what he's feeling. The humor comes from the various other couples that Burt and Verona encounter on their trip, and that humor is often very biting. Each of the couples have very clear issues, but they're thankfully all different. From Burt's incredibly selfish parents to a passive aggressively judgmental cousin to joking but miserable former co-workers; every couple shows Burt and Verona one more view of how things can go horribly wrong. What makes it such a joy though is while the pair are often thrown (and in some cases appalled) by what they see it never makes them question each other. There is no ham-handed scene of "we might become that" because the two know each other too well and trust each other too much for that to ever have to be said.

The performances in Away We Go are delightful across the board. Naturally the key roles are those of Burt and Verona and Krasinski and Rudolph are pitch perfect in the parts. The two have a wonderful chemistry that is essential to making the relationship believable. It's not a sexual chemistry, rather a very clear bond between the two, a trust and a connection that isn't about the lustful side of things. The two perfectly embody the relationship that has become pleasantly comfortable, both characters just know each other so well at this point that they don't have to have long talks about things anymore. They know each other well enough that just a few words will do. All of the supporting parts are fleeting but all are wonderfully performed. From recognizable faces like Katherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels and Maggie Gyllenhaal to lesser known actors like Josh Hamilton and Chris Messina they all fit into their characters perfectly. Some of the characters are extreme, some are subtle but all are believable. Any member of the audience will see aspects to these characters that they recognize from people in their own lives. Even as many of them are ridiculed the supporting roles are not simplistic caricatures, but fully realized people.

Director Sam Mendes has a tendency to sometimes drown his films in imagery, sometimes to the benefit of the story (as in American Beauty) other times to it's detriment by means of distraction (as in Road to Perdition.) This time however Mendes has left his bag of tricks at home and has kept things visually simple, letting the characters and relationships do the work rather than overly layered visuals. Don't mistake Mendes' simple visual approach for a dull one, the images that he uses are still just as carefully chosen as ever, they simply don't demand attention the way they do in his other films. Part of the shift in approach may be due to Mendes working with a whole new crew rather than his usual team, something he's said he did to avoid getting into a rut with his approach. Stepping out of the comfort of that he would have had with his usual crew has obviously done him good and his touch as a director is still evident but not as overpowering as it has been in the past.

Away We Go seemed to divide most critics and it's difficult to see the fault in this pleasant little journey. Then again, perhaps for some that was the issue. Those expecting the heavier aspects their used to from Mendes' work won't find them here. And those looking for a more run of the mill romantic comedy will find this lacking in the slap stick or embarassment humor that makes up so much of that genre. It is a romantic film, and it is a comedy but anybody looking for a "romantic comedy" in the normal sense this term is usually used may come away disappointed. It's a pleasant little film, it's meant to leave audiences feeling warm inside and so long as it is approached without the wrong expectations it does that wonderfully.

Thanks to a light touch from the makers, a smart script and ideal casting Away We Go is a joyous little film. Given all the of the characters that Burt and Verona encounter and how often they see the ugly side of relationships and families the film is never cynical. Even as the other couples are offered up to expose their flaws and give the audience some great laughs there is a feeling of hope that runs through the entire film. That hope is thanks to Burt and Verona, who really do seem to be perfect for each other. The strength of their bond really does give the whole film a feeling of "it's all going to be alright" which keeps it from getting bogged down in dysfunction. This small intimate little comedy of relationships is a joy from start to finish.

Final Score: 5 out of 5