Away We Go

Away We Go
Name	Away We Go
Director	Sam Mendes
Producer	Edward Saxon, Marianne Bower
Writer	Dave Eggers, Vendela Vida
Starring	John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph
Music	Alexi Murdoch
Cinematography	Ellen Kuras
Editing	Sarah Flack
Studio	Big Beach, Neal Street Productions
Distributor	Focus Features
Released	05 June 2009
Runtime	98 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$17 million
Gross	$14.9 million

Away We Go is a 2009 American comedy-drama road film directed by Sam Mendes and written by the literary couple Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida. The film follows a thirty-something expectant couple, Burt and Verona, as they travel across North America visiting friends and family in search of the ideal place to build their home and start their family. It features an ensemble supporting cast and is noted for its blend of humor and poignant observation on modern relationships and parenthood.

Plot

The narrative centers on Burt Farlander and Verona De Tessant, who, after learning Burt's parents are moving to Antwerp before their grandchild's birth, decide to embark on a cross-continental journey to find a new home. Their travels take them to Phoenix to visit Verona's former colleague LN, to Tucson to see Verona's sister Grace, to Madison to visit Burt's childhood friend Ellen, to Montreal to see Burt's cousin Tom, and finally to Miami to reconnect with Burt's brother Courtney. Each encounter presents a different, often chaotic, model of family life, from LN's bitter divorce to Tom and Munch's joyful adoption of a large multi-ethnic family, ultimately leading the couple to define "home" on their own terms.

Cast

The film is led by John Krasinski as the earnest and slightly goofy Burt Farlander and Maya Rudolph as the more grounded and artistic Verona De Tessant. The supporting ensemble features Allison Janney as the crass and loudmouth LN, Maggie Gyllenhaal as Burt's radically New Age friend Ellen, Chris Messina as Burt's brother Courtney, Paul Schneider as Burt's grieving cousin Tom, Melanie Lynskey as Tom's wife Munch, Catherine O'Hara and Jeff Daniels as Burt's self-absorbed parents, Gloria and Jerry Farlander, and Jim Gaffigan as LN's subdued husband, Lowell.

Production

The project was developed by Sam Mendes following his work on the acclaimed Revolutionary Road. The screenplay was penned by the married writers Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida, drawing from their own experiences. Principal photography commenced in 2008, with locations spanning several states and Canada to depict the couple's journey, utilizing the cinematography of Ellen Kuras. The score was composed by Scottish singer-songwriter Alexi Murdoch, whose songs feature prominently throughout the film. The production companies involved were Big Beach and Mendes's own Neal Street Productions.

Release

Focus Features acquired distribution rights and premiered the film at the 2009 Edinburgh International Film Festival. It received a limited theatrical release in the United States on June 5, 2009, before expanding to wider release. The film was marketed as an offbeat, character-driven comedy, distinct from the larger studio fare of that summer. Its international rollout followed throughout the latter half of 2009.

Reception

Critical reception was mixed; the film holds a 67% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Praise often focused on the performances of Maya Rudolph and John Krasinski, the authentic chemistry between the leads, and the film's heartfelt moments. Detractors criticized its episodic structure and perceived smugness in its portrayal of alternative lifestyles. At the Box office, the film was a modest performer, grossing $14.9 million worldwide against a $17 million budget. It received a nomination for the Golden Bear at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival.

Themes and analysis

The film is frequently analyzed as a contemporary exploration of the American Dream and the search for identity and community. Through its episodic structure, it examines various archetypes of modern family life, from the dysfunctional to the idealized, questioning traditional notions of stability. The journey motif serves as a metaphor for the transition into adulthood and responsible parenthood. Scholars have noted its place within the road movie genre and its connections to the literary sensibilities of its writers, Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida, often comparing its tone to works like The Corrections or films by Alexander Payne.

Category:2009 films Category:American comedy-drama films Category:American road movies Category:Films directed by Sam Mendes Category:Focus Features films