Read my review of GOING THE DISTANCE.
It's a rom-com, so one knows going in that the visuals and sound aren't going to explode your home entertainment system. Warner Bros.' 1080p transfer is fairly true to its source. Digital problems are absent. The color palette is natural in the way a documentary looks, so nothing really pops. Some scenes actually look like they were filmed using a different camera from others. As for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, it’s weighted to the front speakers. The soundscape is moderately immersive giving some ambiance during bars scenes, etc. The dialogue and music are clear.
As for the special features, director Nanette Burstein provides the film’s audio commentary, which serves as an interesting look at how a documentary filmmaker approached her first rom-com. She’s not the most rousing talker, but what she has to say is interesting, especially on how she tries to go against rom-com conventions (New Yorkers live in realistic apartments) and how she approached the comedy (lots of improv).
The rest of the features are a collection of standard stuff. “How to Have the Perfect Date” asks this question of the film’s cast. “A Guide to Long Distance Dating” has the cast and crew pondering about the film’s long distance relationship themes. “The Cast of GOING THE DISTANCE: Off The Cuff” has the cast and crew pondering about the film’s comedy approach. A collection of seven deleted scenes are either improv that didn’t make the final cut or scripted material replaced by improv. One dramatic scene between Barrymore and Applegate is a nice scene probably cut for flow. Finally, there is a music video for the film’s original song “If You Run” from The Boxer Rebellion and a featurette of the film’s soundtrack, heavily promoting The Boxer Rebellion.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
