Parents' Guide to

Going the Distance

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Edgy Barrymore romcom has lots of sex, language.

Movie R 2010 97 minutes
Going the Distance Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 5 parent reviews

jrn
jrn Adult
February 18, 2011
age 17+

Adults only

Explicit sexual content, drug and alcohol use.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
rchris2000
rchris2000 Parent of 4, 6 and 7-year-old
January 17, 2011
age 17+

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Drew Barrymore and her real-life on-and-off beau Justin Long star in GOING THE DISTANCE as Erin and Garrett, two thirtysomethings who hit it off one night at a bar and go on to have a summer fling. Since Erin's leaving New York and moving back to San Francisco after her newspaper internship's over, they vow to keep things light -- but once the six weeks are over, they realize that they like each other a lot more than they first admitted and want to try to stay together long distance. But living thousands of miles apart isn't conducive to a lasting relationship. Can love trump the miles?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (4 ):

There's something authentic in the way that Going the Distance renders a modern-day relationship -- and one conducted from a distance, at that. It tries not to sugarcoat the emotional and sexual frustrations that such a setup unleashes. Which may be why the too-neat ending detracts from what is otherwise an entertaining, if a little predictable, romantic comedy.

Still, it's lots of fun. Erin and Garrett's meeting is cute, but not too cute, and there's enough edge in their banter to make it believable. That believability may have something to do with Long and Barrymore's history, as well as director Nanette Burstein's documentary filmmaking credentials. Extra props go to Christina Applegate as Erin's overprotective sister and to Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day as Garrett's best friends, too. Bottom line? Suffice it to say that Going the Distance keeps the journey interesting.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the film portrays sex, drinking, and drug use. Do you think it's intending to send any specific messages about those topics? What can some of the real-life repercussions of those behaviors be?

  • Who do you think this film is intended to appeal to? How can you tell?

  • Parents, talk to your teens about realistic expectations for dating and romance.

Movie Details

  • In theaters: September 3, 2010
  • On DVD or streaming: November 30, 2010
  • Cast: Christina Applegate , Drew Barrymore , Justin Long
  • Director: Nanette Burstein
  • Inclusion Information: Female directors, Female actors, Bisexual actors
  • Studio: Warner Bros.
  • Genre: Romance
  • Run time: 97 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: sexual content including dialogue, language throughout, some drug use and brief nudity
  • Last updated: January 29, 2023

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