I Tuesday, Sept. 7,2010 MOVIE REVIEW ‘Going the Distance’ Reviewed by Lauren Ingeno COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Relationships can be rough. Long distance relationships can be rougher. “It’s hard to be away from the person you love for months at a time,” says Dan (Charlie Day) in “Going the Distance” a romantic comedy that opened Friday. The movie accurately por trays the hardships that come with being committed to someone hundreds of miles away. Unfortunately, with too much forced humor, the movie never really takes off. Drew Barrymore and Justin Long play Erin and Garrett, a couple who meet at a bar in New York and begin dating. But Erin is only in New York for an internship, and must return to San Francisco in six weeks. In a two-minute montage we see Erin and Garrett falling in love. The two can’t stand to be without each other, and after Garrett dramatical ly chases after Erin in an airport, they decide they will try a long distance relationship. There are a few good things about “Going the Distance.” First, real-life couple Long and Barrymore have a chemistry and ease with each other that translates on screen. Their relation ship seems real, and so do the problems that the couple faces, but Erin and Garrett never experi ence a huge, dramatic conflict. The fears of infidelity, choosing between a career and a relationship, and finding the time and cash to travel to each other are all relevant and real problems that the movie addresses. Sadly, though the chemistry of the couple and overall theme of the movie is not at all forced, the script very much is. The movie is rated “R” because of nudity drugs and language, all of which were unneces sary. Barrymore’s character is crass and tough and likes to drop the F-bomb in every other sentence. It seems like the screenwriter wanted “Distance” to distance itself from the typical rom com with all of its dirty language, but it all sounds unfunny and contrived. Long remains likeable throughout the movie, but Barrymore’s “tough-girl” act and obnoxious laugh become unbearable by the end of the movie. “Going the Distance” is a rare romantic come dy with an authentic stoiyline and unconvincing, cringe-worthy dialogue. Too bad. Grade: C+ To e-mail reporter: ImisolB@psu.edu TV REVIEW ‘Hellcats’ Reviewed by Karina Yiicel COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Marti Perkins is your typical college girl. Played by Alyson Michalka, she just wants to finish school, get a law degree and start her life as a lawyer. But on the CW’s new fall show, “Hellcats,” Marti just lost her scholarship, and her mother doesn’t tell her until the last minute, leaving Marti to find a way to pay before she gets kicked out. That’s when she finds the Hellcats, the school’s cheerleading team, which offers a scholarship for its members. The Hellcats, a cheerleading squad led by fellow student Savannah Monroe (Ashley Tisdale), conveniently has an open position because a head cheerleader was injured. Marti and Savannah start out as rivals but inevitably are forced to be roommates, which causes tension between them, their friends and their former flings. The show will probably wind up with a love tri angle like “Gossip Girl,” the drama of “90210” and the athletics of “Bring It On.” For those who have seen all of the “Bring It On” movies, this Wednesday night television show is for you. It is almost an exact replica of the films, but in TV form. Instead of a new girl moving to town, Marti is just joining the squad (good thing she has gym nastic skills). It makes you wonder why she never pursued cheerleading in the first place with all that talent. But I guess it wouldn’t be a good show if the out sider joined the squad because she wanted to, instead of being forced into it. “Hellcats” is a Disney Channel reunion, with the two main characters being from popular shows on that channel. Michalka, from “Phil of the Riture,” should be great as Marti. It’s a more angsty and grownup role from when she was on Disney, but she pulls it off beautifully. Tisdale, previously on “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” and “High School Musical,” should be perfect for this role, since she was already in one of the “Bring It On” movies. It’s great that these two former Disney stars are proving that there is life after Disney. The show also features a number of other stars from popular shows, including the coach, Jeff Hephner, formerly on “The 0.C.” Despite the cast of young starlets, I’m more excited for the flips and tricks they will be doing than for their interactions. Grade: B To e-mail reporter: kzysols@psu.edu ST'a 'i New Dolls One listen to the Goo Goo Dolls’ newest album, “Something For the Rest of Us,” may beg the question - what is that “something?” The Goo Goo Dolls have paved the road leading to this album with gold en tracks like “Iris” and “Slide” from “Dizzy Up the Girl” and the more recent “Give a Little Bit” from “Let Love In”. But this album didn’t feel as gold en. If “Something for the Rest of Us” were a roller coaster, “Sweetest Lie,” would be the exciting first hill leading into mediocre twists and turns for the remainder of the ride. The song will instantly become a Goo Goo Dolls classic and a staple for nearly every American’s iPod, young and old. Listeners, more or less, will be run ning out of their homes to be able to listen to this song while driving with the windows down —yes, it’s that kind of song. Johnny Rzeznik’s voice is still great and the band’s sound hasn’t changed much. But that’s the thing the band’s sound hasn’t evolved. It’s not that every album needs to be defined by a new style or beat, but the tracks while remaining very true to the band’s sound aren’t extraordinary and tracks such as “Home” and “Something Fbr the Rest of Us” will be forgotten. The lyrics in the songs, while pretty bland, can get cute at times: Cue “Still Your Song” and “One Night.” In “One Night,” female listeners will find it easy to wish that Rzeznik Was singing to them personally as he sings, “And we’ve got one night/to let the whole world know/just how perfect we could be/just close your eyes and then you’ll see.” Perhaps that’ll come true for the band. Another small success in the Goo Courtesy of tv.com Reviewed by Lindsay Cryer COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER The Daily Collegian
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers