Burt and Verona are two characters rarely seen in the movies: thirtysomething, educated, healthy, self-employed, gentle, thoughtful, whimsical, not neurotic and really truly in love. Their great concern is finding the best place and way to raise their child, who is a bun still in the oven. For every character like this I’ve seen in the last 12 months, I’ve seen 20, maybe 30, mass murderers.Sam Mendes’ “Away We Go” is a film for nice people to see. Nice people also go to “Terminator Salvation,” but it doesn’t make them any nicer. “Away We Go” opened last week in New York and Los Angeles, and now rolls out after lukewarm reviews accusing Verona and Burt of being smug, superior and condescending. These are not sins if you have something to be smug about and much reason to condescend. Are the supporting characters caricatures or simply a cross-section of the kinds of grotesques we usually meet in movies? I use the term grotesque as Sherwood Anderson does in Winesburg, Ohio: a person who has one characteristic exaggerated beyond all scale with the others.
Burt (John Krasinski) and Verona (Maya Rudolph) live not far from his parents, in an underheated, shabby home with a cardboard-covered window. “We don’t live like grown-ups,” Verona observes. It’s not that they can’t afford a better home, as much that they are stalled in an impoverished student lifestyle. Now that they’re about to become parents, they can’t keep adult life on hold.“Away We Go” is about an unplanned odyssey they take around North America to visit friends and family, and essentially do some comparison shopping among lifestyles. Her parents are dead, so they begin with his: Gloria (Catherine O’Hara) and Jerry (Jeff Daniels). The parents truly are self-absorbed, and have no wish to wait around to welcome their first grandchild. They’re moving to Antwerp.Verona is of mixed race, and Gloria asks her conversationally, “Will the baby be black?” Parents on both sides of an interracial couple would naturally wonder, and the film’s ability to ask the question is not racist, but matter of fact in a America slowly growing tolerant.
In moments like that, the married screenwriters, Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida (both novelists and magazine publishers), reflect a society in which race is no longer the primary defining characteristic.After the parents vote for Belgium, Burt and Verona head for Phoenix and a visit with her onetime boss Lily (Allison Janney) and her husband Lowell (Jim Gaffigan). Lily is a monster, a daytime alcoholic whose speech is grossly offensive, and her husband and children in shock. They flee to Madison, where Burt’s childhood friend Ellen (Maggie Gyllenhaal) has changed her name to “LN” and become one of those rigid campus feminists who have banned human nature from their rule book.Then it’s off to Montreal for friends from college, Tom and Munch (Chris Messina and Melanie Lynskey), who are unhappily convinced they’re happy. And next down to Miami and Burt’s brother, whose wife has abandoned her family. There’s not a single example of healthy parenting in the lot of them. The almost perfect relationship of the unmarried Verona and Burt seems to survive inside a bubble of their own devising, and since they can blow that bubble anywhere, they of course find the perfect home for it, in a scene of uncommon sunniness.
They have been described as implausibly ideal, but you know what? So are their authors, Eggers and Vida. He publishes McSweeney’s, she edits the Believer.They are playful but also socially committed. Consider his wonderful project “826 Valencia,” a nonprofit storefront operation in San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Boston and Ann Arbor, Mich. It runs free tutoring and writing workshops for young people from ages 6 to 18. The playful part can be seen in San Francisco, where the front of the ground floor is devoted to a Pirate Store. With eye patches, parrot’s perches, beard dye, peg legs, planks for walking — all your needs.I submit that Eggers and Vida are admirable people. If their characters find they are superior to many people, well, maybe they are. “This movie does not like you,” sniffs Tony Scott of the New York Times. Perhaps with good reason. Spiele-Lokalisationen: Inazuma Rider (Nintendo), Grey Goo, Final Fantasy XIV 3.0 (SQUEX), Sonic Mach2 (SEGA), Quartz, Final Fantasy XIV 3.1 (SQUEX), Sergio&Unison
Spiele-Sprachproduktionen: Auf Geht's (Promotion Software), Flex&Flora - Westermann-Lehrmaterial Events: Sabre Award 2015, Adidas im E-Werk, Hermes Award 2015, New Media Award 2015, KA 300 (Karlsruhe 300-Jahrfeier), Berenberg Bank, Audicity Slot Machine TV-Doku: Weil ich bin wer ich bin, Sprachvertonung, Sounddesign und TV-Mischng (Boekamp&Kriegsheim/Arte)
, Moulin Rouge (Propellerfilm/Arte) Interactive Voice Recording: AVIS Imagefilm: Gesamtmetall, Microsoft Crossroads, Hamberger, EUMETSAT, Rosetta (Viral Film der ESA in 5 Sprachen), C-Knit, Aktion Mensch, Miele (4 Sprachen), Deutsche Bank Roadshow, Meininger Award 2015, Fliedner Klinik Spiele-Lokalisationen: EVE- Rubicon Trailer, Lego Movie (TT Games), Inazuma Rider (Nintendo), Crusader II, Final Fantasy XIV 2.3 (SQUEX), Grid Autosport, Lego Ninjago, Sonic Boom (SEGA), Wii Cross (Nintendo) Spiele-Sprachproduktionen: Mobile 4 - Westermann-Lehrmaterial Events: Sabre Award 2014, 50 Jahresfeier einer bek.
Unternehmensberatungsfirma (Musikproduktion), Hermes Award 2014, Miele IFA-Show Spielfilmsynchronisation: Darkness Descending (Arenico) Imagefilm: Rosetta - Once upon a Time (Viral Film der ESA in 5 Sprachen), Meininger Award 2014 Revue Shows: Hapag Lloyd MS Europa II, Dove - Twenties meet ELectro (Komposition, Arr., Produktion) Ausstellung: Rheinromantik im Rhein-Museum Koblenz (Sprachvertonung und Sounddesign), Baukulturvermittlung Potsdam, Kleist-Museum Audioinstallation Spiele-Lokalisationen: Lego Chima, Alien Colonial Marines DLC, Sonic Reboot, Urals (SEGA), Inazuma3, Professor Layton 6, Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (Nintendo), We are rail fans - Trailer, Killing Floor
, Lege Marvel Superhereos Events: satirischer Lehrfilm (Unternehmensberatungsfirma)
, Miele IFA-Show, Sabre Award 2013, Fizz Award 2013, Meininger Award 2013, IAA Opening-Film Filmmusik: You And I (Boekamp&Kriegsheim) Imagefilm: Miele Professional, Action Mensch Konferenzfilm Voiceover, Aktion Mensch Umverteilen, Lidl Recylcling, ECMWF 2012
Filmmusik: ESA Trip To Space, Youtube-Serie 'Did You Know?', Berliner Festspiele - Trailermusik TV-Doku: Der Berliner Patient, Sprachvertonung, Sounddesign und TV-Mischng (Arte) Spiele-Lokalisationen: Professor Layton 5, Inazuma Eleven 3, Lego Batman, Lego Police, Dr Kawashima (Nintendo), Remember Me (Capcom), Alien Colonial Marines (SEGA), Sacred Citadel (Koch Media), Mobile 4 (Westermann) Herokon Online (Silverstyle), Cafe International, Gehirnjogging (Application Systems) Events: Fizzz Award 2012, Unternehmensberatungsfirma Jahresfeier, Meininger Award 2012
2011 TV-Musik: Deutsche Welle - Future Now (Musikverpackung fuer ein Medienuebergreifendes Wissenschaftmagazin, Nickelodeon - Rausgehn (Popsongproduktion mit Kate Hall, Vocals) TV-Doku-Sprachvertonung: Unter Terrorverdacht (Arte) Spiele-Lokalisationen: Shogun2 - Total War (Sega), Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega), Renegade Ops (Sega), Professor Layton 4 (Nintendo), Inazuma Eleven 2 (Nintendo), Mobile 3 (Westermann)
Imagefilm: Tiger der Welt (WWF), Ui wie einfach - Lehrfilm (Union Invest) Events: Meininger Award 2011, Sounddesign fuer die Eroeffnungsfeier der Ski-WM in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Sounddesign fuer die Jahresfeier einer Unternehmensberatungsfirma in Barcelona Spiele-Lokalisationen: Professor Layton 3, Inazuma Eleven, Starfox-Oinari (Nintendo), Vanquish, Captain America (Sega), Fluch Der Karibik (Disney) Spiele-Sprachproduktionen: Gehirnjogging fuer die ganze Familie, Weihnachten in Gefahr (Outline) Events: Meininger Award 2010, Sony Haendler Roadshow Filmmusik: Schaetze der Welt: Schiffshebewerk in Mons (SWR), IRIS Film der ESA, WWF Google-Earth-Tour Borneo TV-Mischung: Street Art - Die vergaengliche Rebellion, Backstage um die Welt (Boekamp&Kriegsheim GmbH) Spiele-Sprachproduktionen: Simon The Sorcerer 5, The Fall - Mutant City (TGC), Oyo1 + 2 (Musik, Sprache, EFX)(Nintendo DS), Karibu, Mobile (Musik, Sprache, EFX)(Westermann) Spiele-Lokalisationen: Simon The Sorcerer 5 (engl.)
(TGC), Professor Layton 2 (Nintendo DS), 1 gegen 100 (Microsoft) Musikproduktion: Kinderlieder fuer Westermann Filmvertonung: ISS 3D und EDRS Film der ESA Musikproduktion: Live-Album von Gregor Meyle Sounddesign: Veranstaltungen der Firmen CISCO, Mundipharma, Unternehmensberatungsfirma Spiele-Sprachproduktionen: Lamber und Laurin (Outline Development), DWK5 (TGC), Gehirnjogging fuer Kids (Avanquest), HalliGalli (EMME), Goin' Downtown (TGC) Spiele-Lokalisationen: Alpha Protocol (Sega), Kochkurs - Was wollen wir heute Kochen? (Nintendo), Space Siege, Hulk2 (Sega)
Werbung: Timm-TV, Wahlkampf - Die Linke Spiele-Lokalisationen: Iron Man, The Golden Compass, Universe At War (SEGA), Fire Emblem (Nintendo) Spiele-Sprachvertonungen: Frag Doch Mal Die Maus (WDR), Caillou, Heimlich&Co, Treibjagd, My First Pony, Gelbe Reihe, Billi Banni, Atomic Betty, Dollar (EMME), Everlight, Tell, Simon The Sorcerer (dt. und engl.) Werbungen: Tropical Islands (Radio), Coca-Cola (TV-Spot)
Rockmusikproduktion: Leash - Live at the ICA, London (iTunesfestival), On Tour in Switzerland
Kinotrailer, DVD- und Internetmusik fuer das oesterr. Kunstfestival Steierscher Herbst 07 Kinotrailer, DVD- und Internetmusik fuer das oesterr. Kunstfestival Steierscher Herbst 06 Werbungen: Tropical Islands (Radio), ZED (TV); Cook and Fun (Audioproduktion) Spiele-Sprachproduktionen: Evochron, The Horse Mystery, Primetime TV Manager (engl.), Balko, Urmel aus dem Eis (Deutscher Entwicklerpreis) Musik und Voice-Over fuer Wissenschaftsfilm (Das Künstliche Riff)
Sounddesign fuer Business Kongress im Tempodrom, Englisch Voice-Over fuer 'Slices' (DVD-Magazin fuer elektronische Musik Viral Marketing fuer Ebay; Radiowerbung fuer Tropical Islands; Imagefilm in 6 Sprachen fuer Neumann Kaffee; Imagefilmproduktionen fuer Rooms United und Sage Software, DVD-Produktion Nordic WalkingGesangsproduktion mit der Schauspielerin Anja Franke ('Alles auf Zucker') fuer TV-Serie; Spiele-Sprach/Gesangsproduktionen: GEO-Train (EKO media design co, USA), The Fall (SilverStyle Entertainment);
Musik/Sounddesign: Nacht der Astronauten - Ausstellung und Dokumentationsfilm, Stuttgarter Filmwinter Musik, Sounddesign und Sprachproduktion fuer den Festivaltrailer, SAP-Microsoft Eventmusik fuer Fusionskongress, Berlin; Imagefilm: Neumann Kaffee Produktion in 6 Sprachen, Rooms United, Sage Software Spiele-Produktionen (Musik, Sounddesign): Die Wilden Huehner Titelsong, Musik und Sounddesign (Oetinger-Verlag), Dschungelexpedition und Schatztaucher Musik, Sounddesign (Heureka-Klett-Verlag), Pettersson und Findus Musik, Sounddesign (Kiddinx); Filmmusik: Die Amerikanische Botschaft und The Ganga Guest House (Kurzfilme von David Sieveking), Alles Nicht Echt (Kurzfilm von Oliver Goebel), Lined With Charme (Imagefilm, Panatom), Biotronik, Deutsches Museum Muenchen; Audiofuehrer Sashi-e Sprachproduktion und Sounddesign MDR Musik, Sounddesign fuer CI-Relaunch-Film; SAP Eventmusik fuer Kongress: Business Intelligence; Synergyclub Komplettvertonung fuer DVD-Produktion; Schindler AG Eventmusik und Sounddesign;