Away We Go

Co-writer Dave Eggers' holier-than-thou, slacker road story of negative wish fulfillment proves toxic source material to director Sam Mendes ("Revolutionary Road"). Even Maya Rudolph's amiable performance as a pregnant domestic partner named Verona barely registers in a movie that comes off as an apogee of mumblecore influence. Burt (John Krasinski) is an obnoxious man-boy with terrible parents who goes on a quest with Verona to find a suitable place to raise their family. Visits to old friends in places like Arizona, Montreal, and Florida play out regrettably as each exponentially worse encounter reflects poorly on Burt's and Verona's judgment of character. The movie almost works as a cautionary tale about global overpopulation by imbecile parents, but even that would be a bridge too far for this pathetic navel rub that comes with the same sense of entitlement that it pretends to skewer. Although, the movie could win a prize for worst poster of the decade.  
Rated R. 97 mins. (D) (One Star)