Away We Go

Literary entrepreneurs Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida try their respective hands at screenwriting. Seriously, gawks Kimberly Gadette, is there anything these people can't do?

In the ironically titled Away We Go, the journey isn't so much about the lift off as it is about the landing. Not wheels up, but wheels down. The film depicts one couple's quest to find a solid ground that won't just welcome them and their impending child, but will permanently, happily bear their weight with a sustainable grace.

After the initial shock that the grandparents-to-be won't be around to offer their support, Burt (John Krasinski) and his six-months pregnant partner Verona (Maya Rudolph) decide to re-evaluate their geography. Since both of their careers are home-based and portable, and with Burt's parents relocating to Antwerp, the couple decide to ditch their hovel in Colorado to set off for greener pastures. Ergo, Away We Go, with Burt and Verona auditioning various cities in North America, led by the logic that they will visit places where other friends and family have settled. With quaint homey titles splashing on the screen, announcing the different cities, we find ourselves hopping from location to location, "Away to" Phoenix, Tucson, Madison, Montreal and Miami. So … how goes the trip?

Like any lengthy visit in which we stop in on folks who we haven't seen for awhile, the more uncomfortable the scenario, the more potential for hilarity in hindsight. Since we're silent travelers on this journey, we get to enjoy the humor immediately. As for Burt and Verona, they'll have to wait until they're alone to rehash it all.

Screenwriters Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida have created a priceless collection of winning characters. And with director Sam Mendes on board to mold the scenes, it's a delight to see the likes of Alison Janney, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Catherine O'Hara letting loose on the celluloid, their outré personalities writ large, all the while restrained by Mendes' firm, unseen hand. Janney's redheaded, vulgar mom, screaming insults at her kids at the dog track; Glyllenhaal's Ellen, proudly spelled "LN," breastfeeding any and all comers; O'Hara's mother-in-law, wondering just how black her mixed-race grandchild might be. And then, just to throw us a curve ball, we get Carmen Ejogo's wistful sister, unable to find a mate, unable to reconcile her parents' death; and Melanie Lynskey's grieving wife, working out her pain on a stripper's pole.

The supporting male actors also get their chance to shine – but in this piece the women take center stage.

This is a complete reversal with regard to the leads. Here, Krasinski's Burt, sweet and shaggy, may be slightly befuddled but would lay down his life for his woman without hesitation. He is the goofy embodiment of Mr Right, with an optimism that threads through the movie, providing its steadfast heartbeat.

On the other side of the mattress, we get Rudolph's Verona, practical and cool. Cool almost to the point of coldness. Which, unfortunately, is this film's primary drawback. Simply put, Verona is not generous with her affections. She's like the prima donna who everyone bends over backwards to please – and if a minion is properly obsequious, she may grant him an icy, smallish smile. It's not just the fact that Verona won't marry Burt; when he takes a business call in the car, she despises his forced tone of gaiety so much that she parks by the side of the road and gets out.

Was Rudolph's performance directed in this manner by Mendes, was it the script, or her own grasp of the character? We can't say. But it impeded this viewer's desire to root for the couple in full.

Back to that lengthy visit in which we stop in on folks who we haven't seen for awhile … recall the screaming child sitting too close for aural comfort on the plane? We get that in the guise of singer/songwriter Alexi Murdoch, an indie pop alt boy who bleats his interpretation of our feelings throughout the entire film. Answering the challenge: can a singer/songwriter be both grating and dull at the same time? Sadly, yes.

But that's the highs and lows of travel. Met some wonderful people, had lots of laughs. All in all, a pretty good trip.

Rating on a scale of 5 travel postcards: 3.5

Release date: US: July 3, 2009 UK: September 18, 2009
Directed by: Sam Mendes
Written by: Dave Eggers & Vendela Vida
Cast: John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph, Jeff Daniels, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Allison Janney, Catherine O'Hara, Chris Messina, Paul Schneider, Carmen Ejogo, Jim Gaffigan, Chris Messina, Melanie Lynskey
Rating: US = R; UK = 15
Running time: 98 minutes