Away We Go

Beginning with the much-acclaimed American Beauty and continuing through Revolutionary Road, director Sam Mendes has exhibited a tendency to caricature, dismiss, or defame Middle America, especially suburban communities inhabited by middle-class families—an attitude that also pervades Away We Go, which boasts a pair of insufferably smug, superior protagonists. Verona (Maya Rudolph) and Burt (John Krasinski) are bright, educated, unmarried thirtysomethings expecting their first child. Without deep ties to any community, the pair embark on a cross-country road trip with the intent of finding the perfect place in which to raise their offspring—who presumably will be brilliant, caring, and progressive—visiting friends, former co-workers, and distant relatives in such locations as Phoenix, Tucson, Madison, and Miami, to name a few. But everywhere they go, Verona and Burt find dysfunctional families and stultifying lifestyles. Away We Go brims with condescension and stereotypes (particularly in its depiction of “red-state” people), as well as an extremely one-dimensional worldview and dialogue that's just a bit too precious. Even a New York Times film critic recognized Mendes' bias when he addressed readers directly, saying: “This movie does not like you.” Some will be happy to return the favor. Not a necessary purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Sam Mendes and writers Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida, a “making-of” featurette (16 min.), a “Green Filmmaking” featurette (7 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the BD-Live function. Bottom line: a decent extras package for an uneven film.] (E. Hulse)