Review of Away We Go (2009) by Tibor B — 16 Dec 2012

I quite enjoyed this low-key comedy-drama, directed with a light touch by Sam Mendes and written by zeitgeist novelists Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida. Perhaps its key strength is that it doesn't rely on star power for the central couple, instead choosing a couple of TV comics, Rudolph and Krasinski, who succeed in making a warm, charismatic couple.

The set-up is perhaps a bit smug and contrived - the couple live in a rundown cabin and worry they're 30something fuckups, but seem to be able to afford the many internal flights and both conveniently having work from home careers which allow them to hook up with all kinds of other dysfunctional, or plain eccentric, families that make them realise maybe they haven't got it so bad after all.

The families they meet are mostly indie-film friendly caricatures, from Burt's own selfish parents to Alison Janney's crude monster-mom to Maggie Gyllenhaal's airy-fairy, stroller-despising mother earth.

Perhaps most melancholic is Melanie Lynskey's character Munch who hides her multiple miscarriage despair and loneliness behind a wild but warm foster home. An easy film to poke cynical jibes at, but actually if you're happy to go with its laidback flow, and simple "all you need is love" message, there's a lot to enjoy.