Away We Go (2009)

Indie-comedy-drama of 35-ish hipster couple having their first baby - but takes a US (plus Montreal) nationwide road trip before finding that idyllic, suitable nest for starting a family. If one likes, this could be labeled 'Director Sam Mendes converting to familydom'.First off: I'm simply the wrong target group for this. This is for parents foremost, as it embraces traditional family values and child worship, which I personally can't identify with... and that's like trying to sell a sirloin steak to a vegetarian - because it pushes too many wrong buttons in me.Some chapter bits work fine (like the trip to Phoenix). Otherwise, two main traits sink this. 1: The overall mawkish, saccharine-sweet approach. It serves one sugar bomb dessert after another, even though you're stuffed right after the scene where the two sisters get in the jacuzzi at the bathtub shop... or why not where Chris Messina pours syrup on top of a house built of sugar cubes & pancakes to illustrate a happy family home (yeah, juuust like it would happen in real life)!2: The desperate need to cram a multitude of quirkiness in the passing character gallery, where not one person feels like they would exist anywhere else than on a script paper. For that reason, the laughter material is spotted minutes in advance. The singer-songwriter soundtrack also adds to the feel of being SO cliché-attached.It's well-meaning feel-goodness not without its charm, but remains a conservative mannequin on the inside, dressed in an alternative hipster/indie-costume. Score: 4/10 from Ozjeppe.

About 40 minutes in, I had to pinch myself to see if I was still alive.Once I confirmed that, I pushed the stop button.I then needed something, anything to make me laugh, so I dug around and found my 'Lake Placid' DVD.Now, compared to 'Away We Go,' 'Lake Placid' is a masterpiece.'Lake Placid' knows it's a ridiculously awful movie. It makes fun of itself, unpretentious, even with a cast of A list actors.This shows a cool self awareness.'Away We Go' wanted to be something like 'Sideways,' could have been similar to 'Something About Mary,' but just got bored with itself and self should have self immolated.But, we aren't that fortunate now are we? If you need some sleep, view this....whatever it is, and in about 22 minutes, I promise you'll have the best nights rest in your life.

Who are these people "loving" on this film?? Seriously?? I bet you own Juno and own 20 extra copies to give to friends as presents.The music ... oh good Lord the music. So irritating, trying so hard to be upbeat alternative. Did they steal the Juno soundtrack and try to mix it up a bit. Music was so thoroughly irritating. You're going for an "indie" feel, we get it ... NOW SHUT UP!This film just reeks of desperation, it is trying so very hard but was - for me - not easy to sit through. Desperate to seem quirky, it crosses the line into ham territory. A couple learn that they are to have a child, and for no apparent reason besides the man's parents moving away, decide they have to cross the country to find a place to raise the child. One thing to mention is that not for one moment did I sense any sort of true chemistry between this couple. They were reading their lines and doing their shtick and that's about it. John Krasinski was a bad choice; he's trying too hard to disassociate himself from the office and be 'serious' that his personality is impaired the whole time, he can't particularly act that well at the best of times but here ... Maya Rudolph is not leading lady material - though I do like her - I just don't believe the character, sorry.So they go off, visiting friends and distant relatives each more contrived and irritating than the last. One woman talks about her breasts, a man pours syrup on pancakes for what seems like an eternity. The Nazi-parenting lady. All just thrown in by the writers to be clever or add dimension? Just why the behaviour of their old friend's and acquaintances has any bearing on the way they raise their own child, and where, is lost on me.After ruling people out as potential 'surrogate family groups' and the places they inhabit, they are called to Florida for a crisis , and then ... voilà!Maya Rudolph *suddenly* remembers she had a childhood home and its nearby, and its empty and it looks like something out of a catalog for window coverings. They open the whole house up and sit on the back porch. Wow ... could it be so easy? APPARENTLY! *Baad righting* Bad, bad writing. So contrived!No wonder this was on at 1:30am on a Sunday morning. I'd have rather watched the steam-mop commercials that usually play at that time! 2/10

Away We Go is set as a comedy drama surrounding a couple getting prepared for the birth of their unborn child. Although the original driving focus of the narrative is preparing for their unborn child, somehow Away We Go gets lost in a world full of zany characters and situations.Away We Go is formed via a number of segments in which the protagonist couple Burt and Verona meet with former acquaintances whilst attempting to find the perfect home for their unborn child. The zaniness is all too apparent through out the majority of the narrative, from Verona's former boss Lily acting cruel towards her kids for laughs along with her ridiculous attitude and Burt's childhood friend LN showing the couple her radical opinions on childcare. Such scenes do not contain an ounce of comedy as I'm guessing was the initial purpose. This kind of so called comedy continues as Away We Go goes further into its ludicrous world by having brief segments of Burt and Verona acting over the top or having discussions which miss the mark from a comic perspective. In my opinion it does not add anything meaningful to the narrative.However amongst all this wackiness there are glimpses of serious drama which benefits the narrative rather than filling time. In a touching scene with his friend Tom, Burt learns of Toms Wife's recent miscarriage whilst she relieves her inner pain by dancing on a strip pole. Odd as it may sound it makes the scene a poignant moment for Burt realising the strength it must take to keep a family unit together and how some can buckle under the pressure. This vibe continues in the latter stages of the narrative as Tom's sister in law leaves his brother alone with his young daughter making Burt and Verona reflect on their situation, promising to stay strong for themselves as well as their unborn child. These examples of reflection on part of the characters give depth not only to themselves but to the narrative as well, which is sorely missing from Away We Go. If it had been more fluent with this tone then I feel Away We Go could have been a better film.Reflecting upon Away We Go overall it has an uneven mix of mostly comic action and touches of clarity which if it had more of the latter then it would have been a better rounded movie.