cheriberry

With a good germ of an idea for a decent movie, containing an interesting little twist on a somewhat unoriginal and overused plot line, this small movie went terribly wrong with its manipulative and cloying approach to its subject matter. Too much behavior was unmotivated and thus not believable, and too many directing choices were way too emotionally obvious and thus killed any honest emotional response -- from me at least. I wanted to like this movie. Really, I did. And I was enjoying some of the acting performances. But it seemed like at every turn I felt the unwarranted manipulation until I finally started to rebel.

Too bad, because the starting point was hopeful enough. Note to all fledgling writers and directors: Don't be obvious. Emotional restraint is always preferable. Less is more.

If you've been waiting for a well-told weepy romantic story, your prayers have been answered. As others have noted here, you will need to bring a large stack of Kleenex to this one. Which is not usually my type of film, but there is an abundance of talent on display in this one, both in front of and behind the camera, and that keeps it honest and enjoyable. Never manipulative, never cloying, it's a good old-fashioned time at the movies.

Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams are both wonderful in the lead roles. Him I knew, and he is again quite fabulous. Her I was not familiar with, but she is equally fabulous here. Together they are as winning a young couple as you're likely to find on the screen these days. And of course the old pros, Gena Rowlands and James Garner, hold up their end of the bargain in fine style. And the supporting roles, in what could have been horrible caricatures, are done beautifully by some very fine actors. Both the screenplay and the direction are restrained and first-rate.

Grab your tissues along with grandma and grandpa, and go see this one.

"... and her love for life which she values more than the two main characters who just want to get into her pants."

Say what? Were you watching the film? Then you will recall that it was Luisa who boldly seduced the two boys, not the other way around. Yes the hormone-enraged boys were horny, but left to their own devices, the two adolescent braggarts wouldn't have gotten to first base with her. While the boys loved to talk (and talk and talk) about their immature sexual exploits, Luisa was very much the sexual aggressor on this trip. Sure she was memorable, but the boys were the heart and soul of this movie. I cared about them both from beginning to end, remembering well what that stage of life was like.