Away We Go

I caught Away We Go last week.  I have mixed feelings about the film, but it was generally okay.  Review and SPOILERS below the break.
 

A brief synopsis for those not familiar: Burt (John Krasinski) and Verona (Maya Rudolph) are a 30s-something couple expecting their first baby.  After Burt's parents announce their plans to leave the country for a few years, Burt and Verona embark on a trip across the country (where -- surprise -- they run into crazy characters and shenanigans ensue) to find the perfect place to settle down and start their family.  It's funny at times, touching at times, and is generally enjoyable.  Krasinski and Rudolph have good chemistry.  But I have some beefs with the Sam Mendes flick:
 
-Most of the characters they visit are a little too over the top.  That makes for some funny moments (particularly with Allison Janney's and Maggie Gyllenhall's characters) but it removes all believability that Burt and Verona would actually consider settling in those cities to be near those crazy, and I mean crazy, people.
 
-While the stroller scene was one of my favorites, it seemed completely out of character for Burt.
 
-I was surprised that they didn't pick Miami to be near Burt's brother and niece.  They set it up so clearly -- wife leaves, brother is worried about his daughter not having a mother figure, cue touching scene with Maya Rudolph and the daughter...then BAMN...they're off to another city. 

-And, wouldn't a solution to their marriage dilemma be to just go to the courthouse and not have a ceremony?
 
All in all it was okay.  I wouldn't see it again.  The comedy was off-set by a mildly self-righteous tone that annoyed me.  Three stars.

Comments

[KTS]

This might seem incredibly stuck up of me to write, but is this not yet another marriage-is-not-cool note in our present culture?

Note: Maya Rudolph's character isn't much of a stretch from her real life, since she also has a child with Paul Thomas Anderson and is expecting another, but no ring yet quite yet

[Allison]

Yeah, it def. had a who-needs-marriage tone at times. But that pailed in comparison to the self-righteous tone, for me.

[BATMAN]

OK so I'm more than a year late chiming in on this post, but finally caught this on Netflix and came away liking it lots. Likable characters, a nice "trust yourselves and love your life, even its disappointments" message, and good tunes throughout. I think I'd like Alexi Murdoch (who had several songs in the soundtrack) more, if his accent didn't make it sound like he's trying SO HARD to be Nick Drake. But anyway, the songs all fit nicely and the use of the Velvets' "O Sweet Nuthin'" was really a revelation. I wouldn't disagree with Allison's critiques above, but enjoyed it a bit more than 3-stars.