Away We Go details

Away We Go
Format: 15 DVD
Starring: John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph, Jeff Daniels, Carmen Ejogo, Jim Gaffigan, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Josh Hamilton, Cheryl Hines, Allison Janney, Melanie Lynskey
Director: Sam Mendes
Genres: Comedy - Spoof, Drama - General
Studio: ENTERTAINMENT ONE
Name Discs
Away We Go
15 Feature

DVD Information

Run time: 1 hour 34 minutes
Rental release: 01 Feb 2010
Main languages: English
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LOVEFiLM Review Away We Go

  • 4 stars out of 5  

    By Tom Charity from LOVEFiLM

    Sam Mendes' poignant comedy/drama is a must-see.

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Most helpful review Away We Go

  • Pleasant offering from Mendes

    Rated - 0.0 stars  
    By Meako (59 reviews) from Sheffield , 17 Jun 2009

    [Highly rated reviewer]

    This witty life-drama begins when a couple discover they are going to be parents for the first time, and the journey they take through the film (literal and emotional) has them wondering what type of parents they will be, and where they want to raise their children. The physical jouney sees them visiting friends and family across the US, seeing how they cope (or, in some cases, fail to cope) with the struggle of parenthood. The emotional journey sees them tackling their own inner fears, or upbringing, attempting to come to terms with the new responsibility they have.

    This is one of those pleasant, life-affirming movies that doesn't really build to anything, but just takes a step back to look at a key moment in someone's life. The scattering of humour is not as hip and cool as, say, Juno (a similar tale of coping with newfound responsibility), and can be compared with, say, the antics of Sideways. A mature tale, with a very likeable lead couple. John Krasinski, from the US version of The Office, shines throughout as the laid back Burt, whilst Maya Rudolph, of Saturday Night Live fame, delivers the more emotional role as Verona. A scattering of well known faces supply support, such as Jeff Daniels and Catherine O'Hara as Burt's parents, and Alison Janney as the man-eating Lily. However, the standout scene stealer of support is Maggie Gyllenhaal as the spaced out, modern hippy 'LN', an old friend of Burt's whom he shares the laid back nature with, but comes to realise not as much as he believed.

    The direction and pacing of the film give us enough time to get under the skin of these brief enconters with friends and family, and show us a diverse range of parenting skills from the good to the terrible. Nice touches of lingering scenic shots let us enjoy the journey across and around the US along with the couple, and all is complemented by a delightful musical score.

    This is pretty much the type of film that we have come to expect from Sam Mendes, director of such films as American Beauty, Road To Perdition, and Revolutionary Road.
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All reviews

(97)
  • It's got Alison Janney in it, that's enough.

    Rated - 3.5 stars  
    By Oldbloke (307 reviews) from Sidmouth , 07 Nov 2012
    Unconventionable couple about to have their first child are aghast when his nutty parents anounce that they are off to live in Belgium. This forces them to re-think where they want to bring up their family and they embark on a tour of North America calling in for advice on various friends and relatives with mostly entertaining results. It's never really explained how they make their living or finance such an expensive exercise, but never mind, they are good company and Alison Janney and Maggie Gyllenhaal provide a couple of classic mothers from hell, alternately very funny and very creepy.

    Not the indie classic I was hoping for, but worth catching.
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  • Completely unwatchable

    Rated - 0.5 stars  
    By a customer , 25 Oct 2012
    This film has no narrative drive whatsoever. Did the perpetrators consider why anyone would have a reason to keep watching one hour in? Drippy boring characters looking miserable, aimless and lost. And that's it? This is a painful vanity failure from Eggars and Mendes who are clearly enormously overrated.
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  • really nice little film

    Rated - 4.5 stars  
    By tiggytumnus (64 reviews) from Waterlooville , 11 Sep 2012
    this is actually a really sweet film, about a young couple trying to find a home and a place to settle down once they find out they are going to have a baby, and all the characters they meet on the way, i gotta say at some points i really really laughed it was hilarious and some of the people are so hilarious, and the couple themselves have a kind of dry sense of humour that i guess some people wont get, but i really enjoyed this film, a real feel good film, with a funny little story line and a real touching end. loved it. give it go :)
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  • Beautiful road movie

    Rated - 5.0 stars  
    By Mcb1990 (1 review) , 29 Jan 2012
    A gorgeous, gentle, uplifting road movie. Fantastic moments of comedy (notably Maggie Gyllenhaall) and great performances from the ensemble cast. An absolute joy.
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  • Not bad, but not great either

    Rated - 3.5 stars  
    By LynnUK (14 reviews) from London , 21 Nov 2011
    In general it was an interesting idea, a different idea, and that's usually a good thing. I had heard that this was original and quirky, which is was, but I just think that it thought that it was better than it was. The supporting characters and characterisations were a bit OTT at times. Every one had a 'story'. Too many 'characters' for them to know I would say. Liked the ending but I think, for me, it left some questions unanswered that should have been answered as they were really underlying the whole 'adventure'.
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