Eye Candy #54 - "Away We Go"

Away We Go: Sam Mendes is that rare kind of director that delivers a great film each time, every time. Whether it be war movies, gangster pictures, romantic comedies, serious dramas…all are done extremely well and while they are slightly self-conscious of the deliberate craft and choices involved, they aren‘t overwhelmingly “arty“, “Away We Go” is his latest, the story of a thirtysomething couple (Maya Rudolph and John Krasinski) expecting their first child, and, as they feel adrift in their lives, go on an extended trip around the country to visit friends and find the best place to raise their child. From Phoenix to Madison to Montreal to Miami, they run the gamut of parenting, from the uninvolved to the over-involved, from the selfish and the selfless. The supporting cast includes Jeff Daniels, Catherine O’Hara, Jim Gaffigan, Allison Janney, Maggie Gyllenhall, amongst others. Much funnier than the austere previews of the film would have you believe (some parts of the film are hysterical, including a bit with child actor Pete Wiggins that is FANTASTIC), I enjoyed this film even more than I thought I would. Equal parts touching, humorous, and profound, this film runs the whole gamut. And it doesn’t overstay its welcome, clocking in at a hair under 90 minutes. Focus Features needs to learn how to market their films better - stop pretending all your films are heavy dramas when they ain‘t. Woodchuck sez, “Check it out.”