Away We Go: DVD Review

Away We Go: DVD Review

Away We Go

Rating: M
Released by Universal Home Pictures

You would think that a film that's essentially a pregnancy road trip wouldn't be a winner.

However, this latest from Sam Mendes has everything a decent small film needs in spades.

John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph star as Burt and Verona, a pair of thirty somethings who are still trying to find their place in the world.

One night, in possibly the most original way ever, the pair discover Verona is pregnant - and armed with that news, they head to tell Burt's parents the joyous news. (Verona's parents died when she was in her twenties)

But when they tell the grandparents-to-be, Burt's ma and pa (Catherine O'Hara and Jeff Daniels) announce they're leaving the country.

This sets off the feeling that Burt and Verona need to find a home to settle down in as they were only living where they were because of his parents.

So armed with a growing belly, the duo head to various friends scattered across America to see if they can find somewhere new to live before the baby is born.

Away We Go is warm, wry, witty, whimsical and very unexpectedly funny thanks to some humour and deadpan moments from star John Krasinski (from the US version of The Office).

But the second the humour smacks you across the face, director Sam Mendes spins the world on its head and leaves you close to tears - and it's Taranaki's Melanie Lynskey who as a college friend of the duo is responsible for the melancholy.

That said, Mendes and the script don't wallow in it - it's the low-key warmth and the stunning performances by the leads which bring you back down to earth with a jolt.

Away We Go was one of the most under appreciated films of 2009 - it's time you picked up a copy of it and realized why it's so loved by a passionate few.

Rating: 8/10