Love Conquers All In 'Away We Go'
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 7:22PM 
The worst thing about being an "Indie" flick lover living in St. Louis, is that you don't have much of a selection to choose from when you get the itch to see a movie outside the mainstream. You have the Frontenac Plaza Cinema or the Tivoli Theatre, with a combined total of 10 screens. I do my best to make it out to one of them at least once a month, when something interesting happens to be showing. I was a bit distraught when I missed the short run "The Brothers Bloom" had at the Frontenac (why this movie was a limited release is beyond me). I took a look at the next bunch of incoming flicks, and "Away We Go" caught my attention instantly. At first, I thought he casting of John Krasinski (The Office) and Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live) might not do the directing of Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) any justice. Little did I know I was in for quite the surprise.
WARNING: Possible Minor Spoilers Ahead
"Away We Go" introduces us to Burt (Krasinski) and Verona (Rudolph) who are a thirty-somethings preparing to have their first child. When Burt's parents announce they are moving out of country a month before the baby is due, the couple decides to take a trip across America in search of the perfect location to start their family. Their journey puts them in often hysterical situations with old friends and some outrageous characters (one of which being the "new age" mother LN, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal). Each stop on the way shows how diverse parenting styles can be from one couple to the next. The film also tugs at the heart strings a bit; touching on the issues of lost loved ones, miscarriage, and divorce.
Krasinski is as lovable in this film as his character, Jim, on The Office. Witty banter and comedic timing are this guy's bread and butter. Rudolph surprises everyone with her remarkable depth and warmth while on screen. The moment's she shares with her sister in the bath tub and with Burt on the trampoline are some of the most human moments that I have seen in a film in years. I often wonder what it is going to be like for me when I bring my first child into this world. As much as Burt and Verona think they are complete "fuck ups" of parents, they have this amazing love for one another that most couples in the world will probably never experience. On the other hand, they are reaching that "over the hill" point in their lives and they still don't know what it is they want to be doing or where they would like to live. They lack some of the more basic milestones most people in their 30's have already accomplished. It's a bit of give in take, it seems, and it shows that maybe all you really do need is love to be happy. I don't think enough people in the world, myself included, even think about that. Perhaps we just need that certain love to come around to change our minds. Sam Mendes does an amazing job taking us on a journey of unconditional love and the responsibilites of parenthood.
