The Longest Ride

Nicholas Sparks' movies are almost always seemingly made to please the hopeless romantics and the fairytale romance-loving audience, they're expected to manipulate emotions, no matter how extremely recognizable their set ups may be, and they often triumph. But in THE LONGEST RIDE, the attempt barely mimics such success, primarily because of its confusing and ever shifting narrative, whose backbone runs on two romantic sagas spanning across different generations.

THE LONGEST RIDE sprawls across two love stories set in the modern day and seventy years ago. In modern day, it has Luke and Sophia, two utterly good-looking people, who at first sight falls in love with each other, they stumbles upon Ira, a World War II veteran, who himself, has his own epic love story to tell—that one he shared with his wife, Ruth, seventy years ago. More often, these two love stories bear no difference from each other, as both couples go through similar hardships to carry their relationships.

The idea of crisscrossing time to present two supposedly compelling love stories, perhaps, is to double the magnitude of emotions and deliver a more poignant result, yet such very confusing structure is what actually makes giving both the stories with equal level of sentiment, difficult. Still, no matter how one appears to hold more promise of an engaging love story than the other, the tedious and confusing process of going back and forth across two different time frames, and the fact that the narrative failed to establish concrete connection between the two stories, renders less than satisfying result. There's also this chemistry that Luke and Sophia seem to be lacking, regardless of how incredibly beautiful they are as persons, and that, may also be the reason why the other story, strikes as more riveting than theirs. This makes the entirety of the movie—its interesting premise and structure yet often convoluted, and its thinly drawn characters—hard to appreciate and care about. Nevertheless, in the eyes of a true Sparks' fan, and of anyone easily drawn to such anthems, THE LONGEST RIDE easily serves its purpose.

Spanning through generations and intertwining love affairs, THE LONGESTh RIDE would have been more satisfying had it treated both the stories with equal attention. That's not to say it has no small moments of perfection, because it does, but as a whole, the movie just falls below average.

If you enjoyed other Nicolas Sparks movies, you will enjoy this one. It is heartwarming and one with integrity that depicts what it is to love someone unconditionally. It is a sweet, and sensual romance of a young couple struggling to come together while each follows their dreams. Sophia, wants to follow her passion of art, and Luke, follows his passion as the world's best bull rider. Their love story is entwined with the memories of a relationship of love long ago, told and acted by Alan Alda, who plays Ira, as he reads letters he wrote to his dear wife, Ruth. The scenery of the movie is lovely, the bull riding is exciting, the script, thoughtful and touching. Have Kleenex on hand, you will cry. At the end of this movie the audience clapped because it was good all the way through.

My husband and I really enjoyed this. It's sweet and romantic. If you like a movie without swearing and gratuitous sex, etc., this is a feel-good story. Alan Alda was wonderful, and we enjoyed seeing him in this role. Scott Eastwood was convincing as a PBR rider trying not to become a has-been and working through issues of his own. There's action for the guys (bull riding), and something for the ladies (bull riding, and a flash of Scott Eastwood's nice buttocks-thank you for that-so there's something for everyone. The actress who played Alan Alda's wife was absolutely darling. Very romantic film about two people who had a meet-cute and found their lives changed in many ways.

Two stories in one, which is what made this movie, had it just been one or the other I don't think I would have written this review. It certainly didn't hurt that they cast Alan Alda in it too, he is such a wonderful actor, no matter what role he plays, this included. This is a simple love story, times 2. This is not any brilliant "oh my gosh no one has ever made a movie this deep and this incredible before" type of movie. It's mushy, sweet, romantic, hopeful, sad, happy, sometimes predictable, and when it was over I said, "I really enjoyed that movie". That's what it's all about, for me, enjoying the movie. If it makes me feel good in the process, then that's even better. I would recommend this, but not to someone who is not the least bit romantic or hopeful, because you will be one of the people who writes a negative review.

And I don't think it's going to take any time at all for this hunk to be completely and absolutely known only for his own looks, talent, and fame rather than having the fact that he's Clint Eastwood's son being tacked on. Scott is good! Britt Robertson was nicely cast as Sophia, except I have to admit here that I kept seeing a young Renee Zellweger in the part– before the silly plastic surgery turned her into a total stranger. Or just strange. Whatever. Jack Huston was excellent as a young Ira and I think portraying the elderly Ira is one of Alan Alda's best roles. I was just expecting the usual chick flick - but not so. Rugged enough action with the bull riding to interest any guy, as well as a decent plot and all around good acting. To sum it up, this is a nicely done film and one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.