Feeling Like A Barrymore

For any city-dweller, there are days when you simply loathe living in the city. Here in Los Angeles, it's any day you sit in traffic (read: every. single. day.) and when you are forced to deal with the crazies (my trendsetting - that's questionable - hippie-vegan neighbors). Then there are some days when you can't imagine living anywhere else. Here in La-La Land, today is that particular day.

A dear friend of mine, who happens to be an Ellen Show staff member on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank (damn straight I'm bragging!), invited me to attend a private screening of Going the Distance (the movie doesn't hit theatres until Sept. 3). The film was screened in WB's theatre, an elegant cinematic space centrally positioned on the expansive lot. Only WB employees were invited to the screening so I felt so Hollywood! with my guest pass. I was even asked to "flash my pass" at the security gate before entering the lot. After smiling coyly and wishing the security guard a good day, I walked away thinking, "I'm so made for this!"

Going the Distance, starring real life on-again-off-again couple Drew Barrymore and Justin Long, follows Garrett (Long) and Erin (Barrymore), a couple who try to sustain a relationship 3,000 miles apart (she's in San Francisco, he's in New York). They meet when Erin is in NYC for the summer working as an intern for a New York newspaper. When Erin returns to San Fran at the end of the summer, they agree to a long distance relationship. What follows is a romantic comedy that tries very hard not to conform to a standard rom-com formula.

In a hopeful attempt to amuse any male audience member, Going the Distance is bursting at the seams with f-bombs, s-e-x scenes, and vulgar supporting characters (all of whom I actually adore... in other films), and Barrymore's typical sugary sweet-tomboy act (i.e. "I'm totally okay that your roommate listens to us having dirty fun time through the paper-thin walls."). Personally, I prefer Barrymore with costars she hasn't dated in real life (i.e. Adam Sandler and Jimmy Fallon). The chemistry between fictional Garrett and Erin is much too similar to the probable chemistry between Long and Barrymore. It's like watching their relationship play out on the big screen. To be fair, there are a couple of scenes and one-liners (shout outs go to Christina Applegate as Erin's overly protective sister and Charlie Day from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia who plays Garrett's roommate) that spark a collective laugh from the audience, but for the most part the film is predictable fun. It's entertaining but forgettable.

Movie aside, my VIP experience on the WB lot rocked! After the movie, I accompanied my friend back to her personal office (yeah... she's kind of a big deal, not gonna lie) for a quick tour of the Ellen Show offices (squeal!). If it wasn't forbidden to take photos, I absolutely would have clicked away! I mean, these offices house Emmy-winning writers for crying out loud!! I was awestruck to say the least. I looooove having friends in high places!

It's days like today that remind me why I love living in LA.