Away we go

I think we all needed a little diversion this evening, so Chris, Janet and I went to the scala to see the "gentle" comedy Away We Go.

The film is essentially a "road" movie where an irritatingly affectionate couple who are expecting their first child travel around the US to visit friends and relatives in search of a new base. Ultimately, it doesn't come as much of a shock to the audience that home proves to be where the heart is, and director Sam Mendes employs a large talented cast to its best advantage, when exploring parenting extremes and stereotypes. So we have Allison Janney as a grotesque drunk mom.Maggie Gyllenhaal as a grotesque hippy mom who hates pushchairs and a delightful Catherine O'Hara and Jeff Daniels as thoughtless middle aged grandparents to be. John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph play the home-searching couple rather sweetly and Mendes gives his leads a little over saccharine quality which is at times rather cloying.....having said that Rudolph (centre pic) provides such a depth and genuine warmth to her character, that single handed, she saves the film from its own smugness.

I must also add that I absolutely loved the cinematography by Ellen Kuras as each state the couple visit is captured with some exquisite shots and brief montages . One particular scene has the image of a jetliner reflected in the mirrored frontage of an airport building. The plane is seen to gracefully leap from window to window , a brief yet stunning visual treat!...

7.5 out of 10