Away We Go

I'm finally back and I've got a lot of catching up to do. It's been a crazy month with lots of life changing events going on, all for the good of course. Now that things are settling down I've got lists of movies I need to talk about, as well as get back to my top 100 list. Hopefully I can get back into a rhythm and start pounding these out, as well as get back to my script, so please bare with me.

To start things off is a movie I saw right after I saw Transformers 2, since I needed a good experience to erase my disdain for that movie, and I chose Away We Go.

Sam Mendes is a director I greatly admire. His debut film American Beauty was near perfect. The themes of midlife crisis, of being lost and regretting the decisions you've made, settling down into a miserable monotonous suburban lifestyle are ideas that fascinate me. In my own writing I love to delve into the dark side of our modern society and explore the things that many think about but dare not discuss. Mendes, along with the great writing of Alan Ball and the cinematography of the legendary Conrad Hall, packed it all neatly into a dark, if somewhat humorous, yet deeply sad story that hit on all cylinders. Not bad for a first film.

I have not seen Revolutionary Road yet, but otherwise I have really enjoyed everything else Mendes has put out. He usually tends to take his time with projects, develop them right and nurse them along rather than rush them to ensure that the final project is as perfect as it's going to be. I was a bit surprised when I first saw the trailer for Away We Go and saw that it was from Sam Mendes. This is probably the fastest he's worked to get this film out six months after his previous film. I was definitely intrigued, and I wasn't disappointed.

The story focuses on Burt and Verona, played by John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph. They are not married, no matter how many times Burt tries to propose to Verona, and they are expecting their first child. With no family or friends around them, they begin to question where they should have the baby. Thus begins a road trip to different areas around the United States and Canada to find the perfect place to call home and raise their child.

Along their journey they meet different friends who are parents and they are exposed to a variety of ways of parenting, all of which seem scary and crazy and make the new expecting parents fearful of their child's future. Allison Janney has a humorous role as the detached mother who is burdened and regretful to have kids and treats her children as so. Maggie Gyllenhaal plays the new age mother who lets her children sleep with her and she refuses to put them in a stroller because of the sensation of pushing her children away from her. Each actress offers a very strong if somewhat brief supporting role that adds to the paranoia of Burt and Verona's fears of parenthood.

There are many strong supporting roles throughout the film, but it is the chemistry between Krasinski and Rudolph that makes the film work. Krasinski's Burt is played with a silly sense of naiveness to everything around him except when it comes to Verona. He loves her unconditionally and will do anything for her to make her happy. Rudolph's Verona has a lot of hidden sadness and fear that dictates all of her decisions. She wonders out loud if the two of them are fuck ups and how can they possibly make good parents. She has so many worries about their future that it seems to be taking it's tole on her which brings her to her urgency to find the perfect home, where as Burt is more relaxed and easy going and positive. All that matters to him is Verona and his unborn child, the rest will work itself out.

There are a lot of questions this film is asking. What makes a good parent? Where exactly is "home"? What constitutes a person's home? Is it the presence of friends or immediate family? This film really hit me personally because of a lot of the same questions I have been asking myself. As I enter this next phase of my life starting the married life I worry whether I will make a good husband, or a good father. Questions of relocation come up often and probably will for quite some time. Ultimately what is important are the ones you love. That is the true source of happiness and as long as you have that then the rest will work itself out.

There are a lot of crazy parents in the world. Some are just plain overbearing, and some are simply inconvenienced by the presence of children that they simply do not care about them. Some people have so much love to give and are more than capable of being great parents except that nature has interfered and won't allow people to conceive. Those that are lucky enough need to understand the gift and blessing that has been bestowed upon them and treat it with the amount of responsibility and respect it deserves. Parenting is not easy, and sometimes I feel it should be restricted as I observe the way some kids are treated. But at the same time there really are great parents out there, and there are people out there that will one day make great parents. This film is making the same observations of our society and pointing out the various degrees of parenting and showing what it takes to be a good parent. All you need to do is love them unconditionally and provide for them. And of course find the perfect place to call home.

I was a little worried near the end that the movie would cop out and settle for a conventional ending but I was surprised and pleased by the direction it took. The conversation that Burt and Verona have in Burt's brother's backyard is really touching and moving. The place they end up seems appropriate for both of them that you know everything is going to work out just fine for them and their child.

Away We Go is another strong effort from one of our most talented film makers. There is a really good balance of humor, drama, and tears that make it feel extremely real and honest. It's a small film floating out there amongst all of the big bang summer spectacles but it is truly worth your time to check out.