Love, Rosie

Based on the 2004 romance novel 'Where Rainbows End' written by Cecilia Ahern, Love, Rosie is about a story of two people who were best friends since they were young. They've known each other for so long and they're absolutely meant for each other, but could never have the courage to admit that they have strong feelings for each other. Furthermore, life is not always how we expect or want it to be, as various unforeseen circumstances or misunderstandings continuously keeps them apart from each other.

Love, Rosie have the same typical flaws that many romantic drama comedies have: several unavoidable clichés and contrivances, a predictable ending. However, as in all romantic comedies, it's the whole journey that truly matters. The film takes the audience through the ups and downs of their relationships and how it affects their friendship over the years. Things didn't happen the way you expected them to be on some occasions, which is rather surprising and refreshing at the same time. The film is filled with occasionally nice witty jokes and heartwarming moments, combine with charming, likable performances from the lead characters. The two leads have great chemistry on screen and it gives the believable feeling that they've known each other for years.

There's a real genuine, non-manipulative, non-domineering relationship between the leads as we witness several loving, selfless acts on both sides when tragedy strikes one of them. However, I have to admit that there's a rather unrealistic depiction about this "friendship" - men and women can't be close friends because the sex part always gets in the way (A famous quote from another romantic comedy film, When Harry Meets Sally...). In reality, it's virtually impossible that a beautiful, attractive young lady can be close friends with a strikingly handsome man without hardly any sexual tension at all, especially when both of them are heterosexuals and they've never think of each other as siblings either.

Overall, the film succeeds in finding the heart and soul for its characters for the audience to relate with, despite its shortcomings. It's a lovely, heartfelt film that doesn't disappoint and it's well worth a watch.

Rating: 7.5/10 http://yjcool.blogspot.com/2014/11/movie-review-love-rosie.html

Romance novelist Cecilia Ahern made a bit of a splash in chick-lit circles when her second novel, Where Rainbows End, was published in 2004. It was a tale of two people who were clearly perfect for each other but could never seem to find their way towards being in love, told in the form of e-mails, text messages and letters. The story itself was predictable, but the format was reasonably hip and refreshing at the time. Ten years later, the book has been turned into a slight but amiable romantic comedy for the silver screen. The film isn't particularly hip or refreshing, but boasts just enough charm and emotion to entertain - even if it isn't a film that will stay with you for long afterwards.

Rosie Dunne (Lily Collins) has been best friends with Alex Stewart (Sam Claflin) since they were kids. They've always meant the world to each other, but have never become more than friends. At their high-school prom, they ask other people to the dance. Alex moves to Boston to begin his studies in medicine, and Rosie must stay behind due to an unexpected pregnancy. Over the next several years, she raises a child on her own, and he gets married. Through all of life's changes and upheavals, they still pop up on each other's radar, connected via e-mails, text messages and a bond that one suspects can never really be broken.

That's pretty much it, really - the outcome of the film is never in doubt, however long it might take to get there. Indeed, one problem with Love, Rosie is that it does take a relatively long time to get to the point, even though it's tried to simplify Ahern's novel by merging characters and removing subplots. The longer it goes on, the harder it becomes to buy into the various situations, events and misunderstandings that conspire to keep Alex and Rosie apart - whether it's his marriage or hers, the rekindling of old relationships, or plain ol' geography. Their relationship is so heavily peppered with coincidences and mishaps that it could have made a decent dark melodrama about the dangerous effects of co- dependency.

And yet, for all its plot problems, Love, Rosie is a mostly charming affair. There's some real depth to the relationship between Rosie and Alex, one which transcends both friendship and romance in unexpectedly touching ways - whether it's her decision not to ruin his future by telling him about her pregnancy, or the comfort he selflessly gives her when she's struggling to stay afloat in the wake of a family tragedy. Thrown into the mix is the sweet chemistry shared by Collins and Claflin, who are both very cute and very committed to making their roles work. (Collins never feels or looks old enough to play the mother of a teenage girl, even one who had her kid as a teenager, but that's a minor quibble.)

Considering how predictable the story is, it's something of a minor miracle that Love, Rosie works at all. But it does, for the most part, whenever it manages to find the heart and humour of its characters and their almost painfully intertwined lives amidst its many narrative contrivances. It's not great art, or even one of the great romantic comedies, but it's a surprisingly decent diversion - one that should please Ahern's fans and perhaps win her a few new ones.

This is my first review ever, specifically to WARN anyone who looks for some easy entertainment but still values some originality or lesson learned.

For the cute premise of best friends, "soulmates", and "the one who got away", the leads' acting and the chemistry is acceptable. They, especially Collins, are attractive, charming, and likable on screen. Same goes for the set and interior design choices-which I focused on heavily while watching, because something's gotta give.

Right at the beginning, you sense that the pacing is off. A lot of lazy and some confusing editing choices. The score is always too on the nose. Even through numerous major life events, the main and supporting characters stay shallow, one-dimensional, and unreal, making it hard to care about anybody. The dialogue and story of the script are entirely cliché, even for the lovely romance genre, as well as devoid of any nuance, subtlety, cleverness or originality. There is hardly any reason for the supposed "deep" platonic or romantic connection presented. After a teenager's worth of years, every character remained unrealistically childish. The characters' repeated, ridiculous choices made me root against them after a while for poetic justice as some kind of payoff.

And, weirdly, hardly any humor at all. The closer you look, the more annoyed you get at the details.

I appreciate movies for the escape from reality. This one, however, made me want to run back to my responsible, childless and single life, which, even during its most boring phases, is more alluring, revealing, lively, fun, exciting, surprising and romantic than this "creative" output. All in all, a very grating and regrettable viewing experience.

It was not bad. Some of the shots were either in weird lighting or slightly too close ups. The story line was good but honestly more scenes with Katie from both Alex and especially Rosie would have improved it. I mean for the most part she just pops up like of yeah she had a kid. Which to anyone with children or has cared for children knows that's not how life with kids is. Even being the godparent you're more involved than what the movie gave time for. The only interaction between Katie and Alex was towards the end of the movie which did do not make them feel close at all.

The acting was good, definitely no complaints with the casting. The location and set details were really good. The parallel between Rosie and Alex was a great visual aid in telling about their lives. The constant will they won't they was annoying but that's only because it's been overly done in ROM COMs. In this one however it was well done.

The near misses and all the cold feet moments felt true to life. Like that one moment everyone has experienced with they didn't just go for something they wanted. That was, in my opinion, the best part of this movie. I don't think I've ever seen a movie that captured those moments so damn well!

I do not usually write reviews but these hating reviews got me into that :D I don't get all the people complaining about how predictable this movie was. God damn it if you want some unpredictable ending go watch "shutter island" or "mulholland drive" or something that SAYS that it is a freaking THRILLER!!. This movie is a "Romantic Comedy" and it is just like "Pretty Woman", "10 Things I hate about you" or "say anything" - The movies we loved, even if they were predictable. The point is, its not about the ending, its about living in between the movie; desperately wanting for them to recognize love and chanting for there friendship and adoring their silly fights and commitments.

For all those who just want to enjoy there weekend by watching a beautiful romantic movie and smile I recommend them to do watch this and ignore all the hate and bad reviews. Have fun :)