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This is going to be the shortest review ever, because I cannot review this film objectively I dislike it so much. It is worse
than 'Titanic', and that is saying something. I could not find one good thing (ok, that's not entirely true) about this film.
I think I'll break this up into sections because there are so many negative things I have to say about it.
First off, the acting isn't bad (each actor/actress plays their respective roles just fine with the exception of the woman
who plays old Allie--she's not good); Rachel McAdams is nicely spunky as the young Allie, and Ryan Gosling is fairly likable
as Noah (though he often has this annoying kicked puppy look; his acting needs work but his character is an ok one), but they
don't work well together. There is no chemistry between Rachel and Ryan or Rachel and James Marsden ('Enchanted' has sold
me on how adorable Mr. Marsden can be at times). No one clicks and they feel oddly placed together. I can't say it's exactly
miscasting, but they could have found actors who are both good in these roles and work well together.
As in 'Titanic' the directing is bad. Not horrible this time, but not good. It's like it's not really there at all.
There's no creativity with the film, no creativity with shots or camera angles or anything. I suppose you can't ask for much
in a chick flick; they're not meant to be artsy. But you can still be at least a little creative. The story too is cliched
and corny. It's also very predictable. I figured from the beginning that the old woman was really Allie and that the old
man was Noah. Of course they end up together at the end. Of course Marsden's character is such a good man that he lets Allie
go, and of course the parents disapprove of Allie dating Noah and of course the mom had a fling before but had to end it.
There are so many cliches that nothing seems original. The good thing here is that the whole script isn't a waste and that
it's not as badly written as 'Titanic' (no cheesy lines! Well, just a few).
The ending is the worst. I mean, come on, cheese! It's awful! It's attempting to be romantic but it fails. As you
would think, there is a lot of cheese in this film. It's everywhere. And it's unbearable. The idea of the film isn't bad;
the man reading to the woman from a notebook and she has dementia and doesn't remember that she's the young girl in the story,
etc. I wish they would have changed the fact that the old man reading the story turns out to be Noah, but it could have definitely
been written better into the story than what how it currently is if there was no change. Maybe he could have been her son
(but that might have been awkward). There could also have been a more tragic element to the film; I do like tragedies, though
of course, I am not adverse to the occasional happy ending. I didn't feel any emotion watching this film at all. I get more
emotional watching the Puppy Super Bowl than this movie. And I know that is not how I'm supposed to feel. I just feel numb.
Certain directors can evict deep feelings from an audience with a look, a camera angle, a simple shot, or a line in the script.
Not this director. Like Mr. Cameron, he needs to meet with Peter Weir and Ang Lee. Imagine what he'd learn and how much
better his movies would be.
The only halfway saving grace about this film is Miss McAdams, who is by far the best actress here. She is spunky and
fun and has fun with her role. The rest of the acting is fine, but only fine. Numerous cliches and a lack of professional
directing ruins this film (so does the lack of connection between the actors). It's not the film's story, or it's basic ideas,
but how it's executed and acted out that makes it so bad. Oh and music wise, you might as well just forget it's there because
you really don't hear much and it's not worth mentioning. A lot of people are going to find this terribly romantic. A lot
of people are going to think I have problems because I hate this movie and will never watch it again. I am going to get hate
mail and a hate club. But I don't have problems, I just like good movies, that's all.
Best quote: None. Nope. Nada. Nothing worth noting.
Best moment: The only halfway good one is Allie in a bubble bath drinking alcohol while wearing her wedding dress (I could
have used some alcohol after watching this movie).
Worst moment: The ending, by far, where two people die. Covered in cheese. Really, really bad.
Why you should see it: Um, maybe you have a crush on someone in this film, or you like bad movies. But why would you
ever want to see it? (hopeless romantics and soft hearted peoples might like this though).
Why you shouldn't: Just go back and reread my whole review for a reason why.
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