The Case for Home and Away

I read a review of Away We Go just before I went into the film. Empire magazine panned it with a two out of five, but it did not dissuade me from going in, so much of an impact did the original trailer make. The reviewer condemned it with words to the effect that the film was pointless. I think the reviewer was either in an overly cynical mood at the time they saw it, or just has no taste.

I can’t claim that the film is the greatest thing since sliced bread. It isn’t: it’s slight, with a minimal plot (though not pointless) and a minimal budget. But, if you like charming light comedies with a touch of sadness and whimsy, Away We Go delivers.

The film follows the travels of a smart pregnant woman and her adorkable husband trying to decide where to raise their unborn baby. They visit workmates, friends and family all over the continental United States to try and find an environment they like, and one that likes them. On the journey, they meet up with Catherine O'Hara with an hilarious turn as a completely unhinged and unhindered mildly racist mum, one of my favourite actresses Allison Janney with an hilarious turn as a completely unhinged and unhindered seen-it-all ex-boss, Maggie Gyllenhaal with an hilarious turn as a completely unhinged and unhindered patronising hippy, and various other characters of less unhinged and unhindered natures (including Melanie Lynskey, who is always fairly awesome to watch).

With such an episodic formula, there needs to be a firm focus, and it’s a credit to the film that the leads do keep the whole thing together: John Krasinski shines as the charismatic and unpredictable “funny man”, while Maya Rudolph plays the unconventionally beautiful, focussed “straight woman” with aplomb. There is plenty of humour with which to weather the occasional bouts of sadness (the “Best Use of the Sound of Music” and “Most Psychologically Devastating use of a Stroller” awards will definitely go to this film). And, in the end, the film left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling, which I think was shared by those with whom I went.

Verdict: A mild, gentle comedy with a streak of occasional sadness, some amazingly understated and some amazingly overstated performances, and an intimate setting and direction that narrowed the whole world down to just a few different people trying to make the best of things. While this film is not Citizen Kane or Casablanca, Away We Go is what it is, and I liked what it is a lot. 2.5 Ss out of 3.