Forever My Girl is a sugary flop

Movie Title:    Forever My Girl

Grade:  C-

Rating: PG
 1 hour 48 minutes

In a Nutshell:   This toe-tapping, sugary chick flick is based on a New York Times best-selling novel by Heidi McLaughlin.  Heidi even appears in the funeral scene as an Extra. 


It sure feels like a formulaic Nicholas Spark movie or something you’d see on the Hallmark channel, although it's not nearly as good.

                                                

Tips for parents: 

• No profanity.
• Liam gets drunk.
• Billy informs Liam about all of the dangers of convertibles.  While they’re true, I still drive my convertible and love it.
• Talk of pre-marital relations
• Liam teaches his daughter, “Sometimes you just need to let go and live on the wild side.”  How do you feel about that advice?
• Young rom-com fan girls will probably like the movie.

 Uplifting theme: 

• Your choices will define you.
• Family
• Community
• Loyalty
• Forgiveness                                                                                                                       
  

Things I liked:

• Abby Ryder Fortson, who plays the precocious Billy, is adorable.  She did a really great job, although her lines are much more advanced than what they should be for her age.
• If you liked Jessica Rothe in Happy Death Day, you'll be happy to see a softer side of her in this. 
• The cast includes Alex Roe, John Benjami Hickey, Abby Ryder Forstson, and Judith Hoag, with a special cameo by Travis Tritt, who sings the original song, “Slowin’ Down.”
• The small Louisiana town of St. Augustine is picturesque and charming, but actually filmed in Georgia.  I lived in Alpharetta, Georgia for 15 years!  I absolutely loved the Southern Hospitality and magical fireflies.  What I hated was the humidity and the fire ants!
• I was expecting a slap to the face, but the stomach punch was much better.  Ha ha
•  It was directed by a woman, Bethany Ashton Wolf.
• Country music fans will enjoy the soundtrack.

Things I didn’t like:

• The protagonist, Liam Page (Alex Roe), is not very likable.  He easily gets forgiven for being such a jerk to everyone, not just to Josie.  He never really gives a good reason for humiliating and leaving her on their wedding day.  He clearly has a drinking problem, but it's never addressed in the movie...ever.
• Some pretty terrible Southern accents. 
• Very slow moving.
• What ever happened to the burgers?
• Ultimately, it’s pretty forgettable.
• Yeah, sure, it’s easy to forgive someone who is rich and famous, but what if Liam had become a homeless bum with nothing to offer Josie?  
• Fans of the book may be thrown by the fact that Josie and Liam have a son in the book, but a daughter in the movie.

Funny Lines:

• “I said I wanted to meet him, but I never said I’d be easy on him.” – Billy 

                                                    

                                           

                                           @trinaboice

Home Again is not Reese Witherspoon's best rom-com

Movie Title:   Home Again

Grade:   C

Rating: PG-13, 1 hour 37 minutes

In a Nutshell:   No, this movie isn’t related to the 2013 Home Again movie with Tatyana Ali. This rom-com features America’s sweetheart, Reese Withersppon, but certainly is not her best work.  You'd think they would have picked a different name. Something like "Shacks Up with An Impetuous Boy Toy" would be appropriate.

 

Uplifting theme: 

• “This is your day, your year.  Get ready Alice.  The future is yours!”  - Alice’s father
• Family comes in different shapes and sizes.
• Be open to change.

Things I liked:

• Alice’s little blonde daughter is adorable, played by Eden Grace Redfield.  She has a bright future in film and TV if she wants one.  You can also see her in The Glass Castle.
• They play Heads Up! in a musical montage, so you might miss it.  It's a free app and a lot of fun!
• Alice’s boy toy is played by Pico Alexander.
• Teddy is played by Nat Wolff.  Did you know his mother is Polly Draper (thirtysomething: Season 1) and his father is Michael Wolff, the bandleader on the old Arsenio Hall Show?  Nice pedigree!
• I love Candace Bergen in anything.  It’s always great to see her.
• Jon Rudnitsky playes the only one in the movie who acts like a responsible grown up.  We’ll see him again in James Franco’s upcoming movie The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made

Things I didn’t like:

• Throwing up, sleeping with a stranger after just meeting.  Nope.  Not glamorous.  Alice and her boy toy are sluts.  What happened to old fashioned romance?
• Lots of music montages with talking, laughing, drinking, and kissing.
• The boy toy acts selfishly when he storms out when his friends explain they’re working on additional projects.  Instead, he should be happy for them.  He seems young and immature and self-centered the entire time.
• Alice (Reese Witherspoon) makes some very bag parenting choices.  For example, she brings in three male strangers to live in her house, even though she has two young daughters.  That's just asking for trouble in the real world.  Sleeping with one of them is irresponsible and confusing for the children. It's supposed to be adorable and charming in the movie, but it frustrated me.
• The premise is pretty unrealistic and ridiculous.
• Instantly forgettable. 

Tips for parents: 

• “Can’t I just go on anti-depressants just like everyone else?” – Isabel (Lola Flanery)  She talks about having anxiety and depression and watches her mom pop pills every time she has a problem.
• Profanity.  I hate it when kids swear.
• A married woman sleeps with a young guy (you only see kissing)

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

The Mountain Between Us blends genres, but no heat

Movie Title:    
The Mountain Between Us

Grade:  C+

Rating:   PG-13, 100 minutes

In a Nutshell:  Based on The Mountain Between Us: A Novelthis dramatic romance with a survival backdrop features two great actors: award-winning Kate Winslet and Idris Elba.

 

Uplifting theme: 

• Love
• Hope

Things I liked:

• Winslet and Elba offer solid acting.
• Some say the melodramatic ending is corny, but I liked it.  Call me a hopeless romantic.
• The cinematography sets up great shots in the beautiful mountains.

Things I didn’t like:

• There’s no way to tell how much time has passed on their journey, other than when Kate Winslet’s character tells us.
• As far as a survival movie goes, they easily happen upon food and shelter, so there’s no feeling of desperation.  I kept imagining the actors sitting in a warm camper, drinking hot cocoa right before each scene they did.
• There's not a lot of character development.  
• The romance feels forced and then rushed.  Some would call that a lack of chemistry.     

Funny line:
* "It would be funny if you weren't really a doctor." - Alex
    "Why would that be funny?" - Ben
    "Because you'd be doing all this just to see my fancy underwear."
      - Alex
    "They're not that fancy." - Ben



Tips for parents: 

• Pre-marital "relations".
• Some profanity.
• Some perilous situations.
• Kids will like the dog, but probably be a little bit bored.

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

Everything Everything makes tween girls swoon and giggle

Movie Title:  Everything, Everything

Grade:  C-

Rating:  PG-13, 1 hour 36 minutes

In a Nutshell:  This chick flick coming-of-age story reminds us to live our lives, instead of just observe them.   

Based on the popular teen romance Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon, tweens and girls will swoon; parents probably won’t.

Uplifting theme: 

• “Words spoken in the air tend to go unheeded.  Words put to paper do not.” – Nurse Janet (Marion Eisman)
• “Love is worth everything.  Everything.”

Things I liked:

• Amanda Stenberg is compelling to watch as Maddy.  She's just lovely.
• Nick Robinson is the newest heartthrob who all of the squealing girls in the audience loved.
• It was nice seeing Ana de la Reguera again.  I haven’t really seen her since Nacho Libre.
• You learn about Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease (SCID) in a short cartoon explanation in the beginning of thefilm and learn that most kids don’t make it past 2 years old. 
• I liked Maddy’s cool, hanging chair in her favorite room.
• Beautiful blue ocean and perfect sandy beach.
• You see a short clip of Cher in Moonstruck, which she won an Academy Award for.
• I think it’s great that Maddy writes book reviews!
• She mentions the book The Little Prince, which is one I would highly recommend!
• I’ve heard the movie is a very accurate adaptation to the book.
• Race and color aren’t mentioned, which is refreshing.  The biracial romance is simply two people falling in love.
• Twist.  I love twists. 

Things I didn’t like:

• Maddy's and Olly's bedroom windows sure are close to each other.  I'd hate to be that close to my next door neighbor.  Well, unless I'm in love with him, eh?
• Maddy disobeys her mom.  Nice message, right? 

• If Maddy never leaves the house, why would she need a big wardrobe?  Why would she own a party dress? 

• Teenagers may not know who Nurse Ratched is who Maddy refers to.  She was a cruel nurse in the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest 

• Maddy's yellow bathing suit was really immodest.  I hear that in the book, it's pink.  If this movie is for teen girls, let's teach them to wear modest bathing suits and not throw themselves at guys, OK?

• It’s ridiculous how Maddy would know how to swim if she had never been in water any deeper than a bath tub in her entire life.
• It's super cliched and predictable.

Funny lines:

• “He wears black all of the time, but he’s not as cynical as he looks.” – Maddy
• “Just try not to breathe.” - Olly

Interesting lines:

• “You’re not missing out on anything.” – Dr. Whittier (Anika Noni Rose)

“Nah, just everything.” – Maddy

• “I own 100 white t-shirts.  It’s my standard uniform.” – Maddy
• “At least I have the internet.” – Maddy
• “Love can’t kill me, Mom.” – Maddy
• “Why would anyone set themselves up for a broken heart?” - Maddy
• “I feel like an astronaut, stranded in space.” – Maddy
• “When I talk to him, I feel like I’m outside.” – Maddy
• “He thinks I’m funny, smart, and beautiful…in that order.” – Maddy

“As he should.”  - Dr. Whittier

• “I can’t think when I’m around you.” – Maddy

“Thinking is overrated.” – Ollie

• “Credit cards are surprisingly easy to get.” – Maddy   True.  I hate how people think they can just get a card and then buy things with no intention of ever paying off the credit card.

 Dumb lines teenage girls laughed at in the theater:

• “My mom made a bundt.  It’s not very good.” – Olly
• “Is it always like that?” – Maddy
“It’s never like that.” – Olly

Tips for parents: 

• Your kids may not know the word “morose.”  Tell them it means “gloomy, sullen, ill-humored.
• No profanity.
• The book and movie basically glorify romance above everything else.  As a mom, I'm not humored by Maddy's disobedience.  Her behavior is reckless and disrespectful.  For that matter, so is Olly.  If he really loved her, he would have kept her safe and not put her at risk.  Of course, the mom made mistakes too.
• Suggestion of pre-marital relations.
• There is a brief confrontation outside between Olly and his abusive father. 

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

The Space Between Us has a lot of empty spaces in theater seats

Movie Title:   The Space Between Us

Grade:   B

Rating:  PG-13, 120 minutes

• In a Nutshell:  This is kind of a modern version of the old Starman film about STAR-crossed lovers. Writer/Director  Peter Chelsom has given us some truly mediocre films.  Sadly, this is another one.  Fun fact: He voices Centaur in the movie.

For a movie about science, there wasn't a lot of chemistry on the screen.

Uplifting theme: 

• Our most valuable resource on Earth is courage.
• “Just because something sounds crazy, doesn’t mean it’s not true.” – Gardner
• “You don’t know how far away you are until there’s someone you want to be near.” – Gardner
• What is your favorite thing about Earth?
• We live on a truly magnificent planet and need to enjoy every minute we get to live on it.
• Humanity, friendship, loneliness
• Both Gardner and Tulsa want to feel close to someone and be a part of a family.  In the great universe of space, there is small part of every human's soul to want to belong.

Things I liked:

• Disney is in love with Britt Robertson.  She’s definitely adorable and makes us believe she’s truly in love with whoever the lead actor is.  Her romantic leads have been much older men in other movies, so I wonder how she felt being with the young Asa Butterfield.  
• Asa Butterfield does a good job walking “heavy” in the beginning, as he tries to get used to gravity.
• Carla Gugino looks like she has been living at the gym lately and looks fantastic.  Her character’s name is Kendra.  If I had a daughter, I would have named her Kendra. 
• There are some really beautiful images of outer space, Earth, and everything in between.
• You can SEE the sonic boom as the spaceship takes off through the atmosphere. That was cool.
• That clear laptop used by Sarah’s brother (played by Colin Egglesfield) looked awesome.
• There is a tiny twist that helped save the ending for me.
• It cracked me up when Gardner was in Las Vegas (where I live) and made the following accurate observation, “It’s like a big toy.  It’s not real.”  True.  My oldest son didn’t grow up in Las Vegas and calls the city a “gold-encrusted turd.” 
• I liked when Tulsa looked up at all of the hot air balloons in the sky and finally grinned, recognizing that this earth we live on is pretty special.
• Self-driving car!  Yes!
• Aurora Borealis!  That’s on my Bucket List!
• The stunt double for both Britt Robertson and Carla Gugino is named Trina!  Woohoo!  Great name!
• It’s appropriate that the name of the Mars project is Genesis.
• Did you notice the pretty frosted glass chairs in the hangar at the beginning of the movie? 
• I chuckled out loud when I saw “Kick me” written on the back of Gardner’s robot.

Things I didn’t like:

• It almost pulled tears out of my eyes, but my tear ducts felt too manipulated and refused to cooperate with the director's plan.
• Tulsa and Gardner go on a romantic crime spree, stealing cars and other things while they try to run from their "mean" pursuers.
• Quite a few parts of the story line are absolutely ridiculous.
• This movie had a LOT of very young-looking Extras, which made it look like a movie, rather than real life.
• It always bugs me when the movie trailer has lines or moments that never actually show up in the movie.  That being said, the trailer pretty much sums up the movie, minus the small twist at the end.

Interesting lines:

• “The world doesn’t give you exactly what you want.” – Tulsa
• “Just because people lied to you before doesn’t mean I’m lying to you.” – Gardner
• “We’re running out of time and Mother Nature does not negotiate.” – Nathaniel Shepherd (Gary Oldman)

Funny lines:

• “I’m on a road trip with an insane person.” – Tulsa
• “You’re taller than I thought you’d be.” – Tulsa

“You’re meaner than I thought you’d be.” - Gardner

Romantic lines:

• What’s your favorite thing about earth?” – Gardner

“You are, Gardner.” – Tulsa

• “How did you become more beautiful in 20 seconds?” - Gardner
• “You make me human.” – Gardner

Tips for parents:   

• Pre-marital relations between teenagers.
• Teens steal cars and participate in other illegal and irresponsible behavior, all free of consequences.
• Discussion about foster care and Social Services.
• Pre-teens who often feel disenfranchised or misunderstood will enjoy this film.

Allied feels like a film noir spy romance

Movie Title:  Allied

Grade:  B

Rating:  R, 124 minutes

In a Nutshell: World War II offers the perfect backdrop for a romantic spy adventure, featuring two good looking actors who fall in love.  It has a cat and mouse, film Noir feel to it that makes it look old-fashioned and will remind you of some of the scenes from the classic movie Casablanca.

Uplifting theme: 

• Duty, love, honesty, patriotism, loyalty.

Things I liked:

• Brad Pitt speaks French and looks cool in every scene.
• Marion Cotillard is mesmerizing as Marianne Beausejour.  She really looks and sounds like she stepped out of the 1940's.  She hits the big screen again in a couple of weeks in the movie "Assassin's Creed."
• The CGI blends really well with real-life shots.
• There is a funny scene when Brad Pitt shuffles playing cards.  Marianne later says, “So, it’s in the cards for our chance to make history.”
• This is more romance than spy thriller.

Things I didn’t like:

• It’s a bit slow moving.
• The last time Brad Pitt was in a spy movie, he got a divorce.  Just sayin…
• There are a lot of subtitles, although sometimes French is spoken without subtitles so you have to guess at what is being said. According to the Duolingo app, I'm 11% fluent in French.  So there's that.  ha ha
• A guy throws up.  Ick.
• Some scenes could have been trimmed a bit to be more effective.
• There could have been more spy stuff. 

Interesting lines:

• “Who are you thinking about?” – Max

“My mother.” – scared soldier

“Don’t.  Think of your father.  He’s proud of you.” – Max 

Funny lines:

• “Salute me, first!” - George

“Go to hell.”  - Max Vatan

 This IS hell. It’s an office.” – George

Tips for parents: 

• You see the side of a naked Marion Cotillard and Brad Pitt’s rear end.
• A lot of F-bombs.
• It’s starts to get hot and heavy in a car, as well as in a bed.
• There are a lot of subtitles to read.
• Lesbians kiss.
• Shooting, violence, suicide.

The Choice is formulaic and lazy writing

Movie Title:       The Choice

Grade:   C-

Rating:   PG-13, 1 hour 49 minutes

In a Nutshell:    My husband says that the definition of a Chick Flick is when two good-looking guys fall all over themselves for one spoiled girl.  If that’s true, then this is definitely a Chick Flick, although not a very good one.

One of the obvious choices in this formulaic movie isn’t just which guy to choose, but there are several others.  

Uplifting theme: 

• “Life just keeps unfolding.  If you sit still, it’ll pass you by altogether.” – Gabby (Teresa Palmer)
• “Life is held together by choices – all sizes.” – Gabby
• “Opportunity is missed by most people, because it’s dressed up in overalls and looks a lot like work.” – Thomas Edison, as quoted by Shep (Tom Wilkinson)
• “Every path you take leads to another choice.” – Travis (Benjamin Walker)

Things I liked:

• Most of the movie takes place lakeside with beautiful views.
• Cute puppies!
• Teresa Palmer looks like the All-American girl next door.
• Nicholas Sparks tries to add depth to his romantic stories.  His most recent tale-turned-Chick-Flick was “The Longest Ride.”  You can see my movie review of that film here.  That film did it much better than this one.
• If you’re thinking about cheating on your boyfriend, you’ll see what a two-timer feels like.
• There’s a funny proposal scene.

Things I didn’t like:

• Everything about this movie is clichéd, even the clothing.  For example, he wears a tank top to show off his muscles and she wears a white t-shirt in the rain.
• A lot of movie critics are begging Nicholas Sparks to stop writing such cheesy love stories that then get turned into sappy movies.
• Benjamin Walker drinks bottles of beer in a weird way.  I know that seems nit-picky, but it bugged me.
• They try to have clever chit-chat, but it comes out forced and predictable.  The actors look like they’re acting.
• SPOILER ALERT:  A happy ending is an easy out.  The harder ending would have been to write something more interesting.
• Both Travis and Gabby are too cocky for my taste.  They fight and bicker from the very first moment they meet, which is a clichéd, although not appealing, form of flirtation.
• What kind of character does a girl have who jumps in bed with another guy when her boyfriend has only been gone a few days on a business trip?  Does true love excuse lack of integrity or morality? Um...nope.

Funny lines:

•  “What are you doing?” – Gabby

“Walking towards you real slow.” – Travis

“Why?” - Gabby

“Cause if I ran, I’d scare you.”  - Travis

• “Mama, he’s a walking cautionary tale.” - Gabby

Interesting lines:

• “Has anyone ever said no to you?” – Gabby

“No.” – Travis

“Then, I’m making history.” - Gabby

• “Your friends, family…that’s all you can count on in this world.  That’s what I believe.” – Travis
• “I kind of fell into the Bible.  He wanted to burn it.” – Shep
• “If you see a man sleeping on the cold floor, there’s sure to be a pretty woman nearby.” – Shep
• “There’s no shame in being a broken man.  I should know. You just pick up the pieces and start rebuilding.” – Shep
• “That’s all any woman wants…a man who’s going to fight.”   (for her)  - Monica (Alexandra Daddario)

Tips for parents:   

• Girls falling out of their bikini tops.
• One girl flips the bird.
• Some profanity.
• Two people jump in bed together on their very first date.
• Take the opportunity to talk to your family about “Do Not Resuscitate” orders.  

All Roads Lead to Rome doesn't have the romantic magic Italy deserves

Movie: All Roads Lead to Rome

Grade:   C-

Rating:   PG-13, 1 hour 30 minutes

In a Nutshell:    I LOVE Italy, which is the best thing about this rom-com.  Set to release in select theaters and On Demand in February, Sarah Jessica Parker carries this cheesy love story.  The last time we saw her in Europe, she was in Paris, starring in Sex and the City: The Movie with her glamorous outfits and co-stars. 

This time, she is racing around the Italian countryside after her delinquent teenager daughter.  She tells her daughter at the beginning of the movie how laid back and peaceful Italy is, yet the film doesn’t give us either one of those things.

This is no Under the Tuscan Sun , which I loved, although Raoul Bova, who romanced Diane Lane in that movie, is the love interest of Sarah Jessica Parker in this one.  By the way, here is a picture of me with Diane Lane!

  

Uplifting theme: 

• Love:  romantic and unconditional
• Patient parenting

Things I liked:

• Maggie puts up with a lot of terrible behavior from her daughter.  I admire her patience and determination.  I also admire how she is able to walk on Italian cobblestone streets in her high heels.
• You get to see some beautiful scenery in Italy, although not nearly enough.  Here are some pictures from my trip to Rome a couple of years ago.

    

           

Things I didn’t like:

• Summer (Rosie Day), Maggie’s daughter, is extremely unpleasant.  She’s such a bratty, ungrateful teenager and her hair looks like stringy cotton candy.  Writers Cindy Myers and Josh Appignanesi should have let us see some of her redeemable qualities so that we could have cared about her. 
• There is a lot of Italian spoken without subtitles.
• There is so much racing around that you don’t really have time to enjoy the gorgeous Italian landscape and sites.  The scenes in Rome are so short that you don’t get to enjoy that beautiful city either.
• The film is filled with constant bickering.  It’s supposed to be playful, but it’s mostly annoying.
• Tons of romantic clichés, such as “Separate rooms? I’m sorry. We only have one room left in the hotel for tonight.”

Interesting lines:

• “A woman takes what she wants when she wants it.” – Maggie

Tips for parents:   

• Some profanity.
• Lesbian innuendoes.
• Drugs and other illegal behavior.

By the way, if you get to go to Rome, be sure to toss a coin in the famous Trevi Fountain.  If you do, it means you will return.  I did it when I was in college and I DID return!

Far From The Madding Crowd makes for a proper Victorian chick flick

Movie:    Far From the Madding Crowd

PG-13, 1 hour 59 minutes

Grade:   A-

In a Nutshell:   Based on the classic 1874 novel by Thomas Hardy, Victorian England presents us with a romantic setting for a proper Chick Flick where men fall all over themselves for a beautiful, self-reliant woman.

We’ll never see Twilight fans line up for Team Gabriel vs. Team William or Team Frank, but Jane Austin fans and those needing a Downton Abbey fix will give an approving nod.  Gabriel is a total stud-muffin.  Just sayin.

Uplifting Theme:

·         Bathsheba says “It is my intention to astonish you all.”  And she does.

·         Bathsheba asks Gabriel, “Tell me what to do.”  He answers “Do what is right.”

Things I liked:

·         Bathsheba Everdeen (no relation to Katniss) is played by the lovely British actress Carey Mulligan.  She has such a tiny waist!  Her close-ups showcase  just how beautiful she is.

·         The musical score was delicious.

·        The talented cast includes Michael Sheen, Matthias Schoenaerts, Juno Temple, and Frank Troy.

-    I've never read the novel, but I hear that Danish director Thomas Vinterberg stays true to the source material.
-     Beautiful cinematography that captures the magic of the English countryside.  I was just in England this month!  We saw sheep everywhere as we traveled through the Cotswolds and into Wales.
Here's one of my pictures:

Things I didn’t like:

·         It was so sad to see the sheep mindlessly follow each other jump off the cliff.  People are like that sometimes too, don’t you think?
·         It’s hard to feel sympathy for a beautiful woman who has so many suitors.
-    It's a little slow-moving, although time passes fairly quickly for the characters.

Funny lines:

·         “Mr. Oak, I don’t want a husband.  I’d hate to be some man’s property.  I shouldn’t mind being a bride at a wedding if I could be one without getting a husband.” – Bathsheba
-     "I have some interesting pigs." - William Boldwood

Did you know?
-    The author of the original book took the title from Thomas Gray's poem "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" dated 1751.  It reads:
Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife
Their sober wishes never learn'd to stray;
Along the cool sequester'd vale of life
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way.
-    "Madding" means "frenzied"

Interesting lines:

·         “What a luxury to have a choice.” – Bathsheba’s companion

·         “I have a piano and I have my own farm and I have no need of a husband.” – Bathsheba

·         “It is difficult for a woman to define her feelings in a language chiefly made by men to express theirs.” - Bathsheba

  

Tips for Parents:

·          Most children will be pretty bored.  Teenage girls, on the other hand, will probably eat it up.
-     There is a bedroom scene, but you don't see much and it occurs after the couple is married.

The Longest Ride surprises with depth

Movie:   The Longest Ride

Pg-13, 2 hours 8 minutes

Grade:   B+

In a Nutshell:   What I thought would just be a sappy, predictable Chick Flick turned out to be a romance with great depth and heart.  We recently saw the beautiful Britt (Brittany) Robertson in Tomorrowland , looking like a spunky teen with gorgeous hair.  A minute later, she’s all grown up and falling in love.  Her boo is the handsome Scott Eastwood whose life revolves around the “toughest sport on dirt”, bull-riding.  He’s the old-fashioned gentleman and hero that every girl wants.

The film is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks.   Also featured in two love stories for the price of one are: Alan Alda, Oona Chaplin, and Jack Huston.  I love it when stories intersect and it works well in this movie.

Uplifting Theme:

·         Ruth asks “What right do I have to be happy when there is so much suffering in the world?”  Young Ira wisely states “What right do you have to not be happy?”  Despite life’s trials and challenges, we need to find our own happiness.

·         “Even an accident will have purpose and direction.” – Black Mountain College art teacher

·         Luke explains to Sophia that “All bull riders get hurt.  It’s not a matter of if, but when.”  I think that’s true for humans in general.  We’ll all get hurt emotionally in our lives.  The idea is to get through it gracefully and with love.

·         “Love requires sacrifice.  Always.” – Ira

·         “We focused on all the things we had, rather than the things we didn’t.” - Ira

Things I liked:

·         I live in Las Vegas where “Cowboy Christmas” takes over the town every December.  It was fun to see the bull-riding trials before that big championship.

·         I love the cute  look of a skirt with cowboy boots.  Another good  look is a shy cowboy holding a bouquet of flowers.

·         The film is full of great country music from the Pistol Annies, Black Pistol Fire, The Wild Feathers, Ryan Adams and more.  The Longest Ride (Original Soundtrack Album) will surely be popular.

·         Beautiful North Carolina scenery near where my mother grew up.

·         The first kiss can really say a lot.  Ira explains “Our first kiss – it was the promise of everything to come.”   Couples often spend their lives trying to recapture that original magic.  An older Ira sadly noted “It’s a scary thing how the people closest to you can become strangers.”

·         SPOILER ALERT: I love inspiring World War II movies.  I was surprised to see a cowboy chick flick include a war twist.

·         Sophia explains that her favorite comfort food is a Polish dumpling called “Koldenny”. Want to see what it looks like?
 

·         I thought Ruth was so sweet to her students.  A good elementary school teacher can truly change the direction of a child’s life.

·         The film touches on childless couples and the painful process of adoption.

·         SPOILERT ALERT: The target audience will love the sweet, fairy tale ending.

Things I didn’t like:

·         Over two hours long, some guys in the audience may find new meaning to the title The Longest Ride

·         The ingredients are pretty predictable.  Somebody’s gotta get wet and have to get undressed at some point, right?

·         Both couples include a spunky girl and a quiet, country boy.  Maybe more variety would have added increased depth to the characters.

Funny lines:

·         “I want a cowboy!” – One of Sophia’s sorority sisters

·         “She has the coldest hands I’ve ever felt.  I think she soaks them in ice water before she comes by.” – Ira Levinson  (the wonderful Alan Alda)

·         “How are you feeling?”  - Sophia to Ira

“The better question is how do I look?” – Ira

“Very handsome.” – Sophia

“That’s all I care about.” - Ira

Sappy lines that girls fall for every time:

·         “Our chance at being together was greater than being apart.” – Ira

·         “Today started out like any other day, but when you walked through the door of my father’s store, looking so beautiful and vibrant, I knew my life would never be the same.” – Young Ira (Jack Huston)

·         “I just don’t know how to make this work.” – Luke

“I don’t either, but I know that I want to.” – Sophia

·         “I love you so much, even if that means it doesn’t include me.” – Ira

·         “it’s only 8 seconds.  That girl could be the rest of your life.” – Kate (Lolita Davidovich)

·         “Ruth had an eye for talent.  I only had eyes for Ruth.” - Ira

Tips for Parents:

·         There are moments when you see some naked parts during pre-marital sex, including Scott Eastwood’s bum.  Both couples end up in bed.

·         Mild profanity.

Good for Britt Robertson for having two movies out this summer!