Away We Go, Blu-ray (2009)
Starring: John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph
Director: Sam Mendes
Studio: Focus Features/Universal 62105960 [Release date: Sept. 29, 09]
Video: 2.35:1 anamorphic/enhanced for 16:9 color 1080p HD
Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio, Spanish or French DTS 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Extras: “The Making of Away We Go,” “Green Filmmaking,” Commentary track with Sam Mendes and writers Dave Eggers & Vendela Vida, BD Live features
Length: 1 hours 38 minutes
Rating: *****
A wonderful small and empathic film which seems quite a contrast to Mendes previous two-hour epic of arguing, Revolutionary Road. Part of the very successful mix here is the rather obvious but compelling story by writers Eggers and Vida about a young very-connected unmarried couple who have discovered a child is on the way and want to decide where they will settle down to raise a family together. The other part is the laid-back but very believable relationship the two portray, which immediately gets the viewer on their wavelength and rooting for them just as though they are some good friends. Rudolph (Verona) has done Oprah and Michelle Obama on Saturday Night Live, and appears the more mature and together of these two, but Krasinski (Burt) is very likeable as a guy who sells insurance on the phone and is in many ways rather naive.
The couple have been living in a ramshackle house near his parents and expected them to be present at the birth of course, but are horrified to learn on visiting them that they would be leaving soon to live for two years in Belgium and miss the birth. Catherine O’Hara and Jeff Daniels are hilarious as the parents. So Burt and Verona decide to visit other family and friends around the continent, to decide on a place to put down roots. The wildest visit is to an old family friend of Burt’s, a New Agey college professor, played to the hilt by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Burt and Verona find some families to their liking, but they all have various problems. They get their act together in the end, depending on their great relationship in which they complement one another. The whole thing has a very natural flow and development – a welcome relief from the forced type of story line and dialog in so many similar films. It’s a very indie film but a very fine one.
– John Sunier
